Today is the birthday of Marcus Rapp (April 4, 1834-September 24, 1904). He was born in Gerlingen, Württemberg, Germany, but emigrated to the U.S. and settled in West Virginia. In 1859, with a partner, Louis Hebrank, he founded the Rapp & Hebrank Lager Beer Brewery, which later became known as the Parkersburg Brewing Co. But it only last until prohibition, closing in 1914.

Here’s a short history from the Huntington (West Virginia) Museum of Beer & Brewing:

The first Parkersburg Brewery was founded by Marcus Rapp in 1859. During the time the company was known as the Rapp & Hebrank Brewery, the original plant was built near present day Route 68 and Marrtown Road near Marrtown. The new brewery was built in 1896 because the Rapp-Hebrank brewery could not meet the demand for beer in Parkersburg.

After the move, the company became known as The Parkersburg Brewing Company and was a thriving business until Statewide Prohibition. The plant was located at Seventh Street where Daley Transfer is now located. The American Brewing Company was on Depot Street in Parkersburg, near the present-day laundry building of St. Mary’s Hospital.

The brewery only operated during 1934 – 1938. It was most likely an attempt by the original owners of the Parkersburg Brewery to re-enter the beer business after Prohibition. The original Parkersburg Brewery buildings were sold years later.

Today is the birthday of Charles ‘Carl’ Hebrank (January 27, 1809 or 1811-March 18, 1887). He was born in Hohen Neuendorf, Germany, where he trained as a brewery. After marrying Catherine and having three children, around 1853 he moved his family to the United States, settling in Parkersburg, West Virginia.

He soon after partnered with Marcus Rapp (who was also a recent immigrant from Germany) to open a brewery in 1850 they called the Rapp & Hebrank Lager Beer Brewery, but in 1874 shortened to the Hebrank & Rapp. His two eldest sons, Lewis (or Louis, accounts differ) and John, were also trained in brewing and later opoened their own breweries in Kansas and West Virginia. Shortly after Hebrank died in 1887, the brewery was reorganized as the Parkersburg Brewing Co. but closed for good in 1914, thanks to West Virginia passing Anti-Saloon laws that took effect that year, even before the nationwide prohibition.