Page: 520

HARRY RABINOVITZ, of Leavenworth, was born near Kovina, Russia, a son of Zusman and Rachael (Hernburg) Rabinovitz, and a descendant, on his father's side, of a family of noted Jewish rabbis, while through his mother he traced his lineage to an old and prominent family engaged in the mercantile business. He was the youngest of five children, of whom two sons and one daughter are in the United States, his brother, Frank, being a merchant in Kansas City. He was born January 18, 1871. Until fourteen years of age he attended the national schools in Russia. When a boy he traveled through Russia, France, Germany and England. In 1885 he came to America, reaching Philadelphia a stranger in a strange land, with whose customs and language he was not familiar, and with no money in his possession except sixty-five cents. For four months he engaged in selling matches to such customers as he could find on the street or in offices. In this way he earned $9. With this money he purchased a small outfit of goods and began peddling through different parts of Pennsylvania, making his headquarters in Allentown.

After three years as a peddler he went to Chicago and from there to Kansas City in 1889, spending three months as a clerk. His next location was at Lee Summit, Mo., where he attended school two winters and also studied under private instruction in the summer, At the same time he carried on business as a peddler. On his return to Kansas City he engaged in the restaurant business. In 1894 he came to Leavenworth, where he bought a wholesale liquor business, and this he carried on for one year. In 1895 he accepted a position as agent in Leavenworth for Val Blatz Brewing Company of Milwaukee, Wis., and has since filled this position. The company has recently completed a large plant, with office, warehouse, ice house and storage rooms, on Broadway and Seneca street. The ice house has a capacity of two hundred and fifty tons, and the warehouse a capacity of three car loads.

In 1893 Mr. Rabinovitz returned to his native land, where he visited relatives and old friends. Fraternally he is connected with the Knights of Pythias. He is a Republican in national politics, but in local elections votes independently.

Page: 756

JOHN BRANDON, senior member of the firm of Brandon & Beal, of Leavenworth, was born in England, August 27, 1831, a son of William Brandon, who followed the machinist's trade and civil engineering in his native land. When sixteen years of age he came to the United States, joining a brother in Massachusetts, but soon proceeded west to St. Louis, and was engaged in running a steam engine in that city. Two years later he settled in Cincinnati, Ohio, where he served an apprenticeship to the blacksmith's trade. At the expiration of his time he returned to St. Louis, where he engaged in horseshoeing and general blacksmithing. In 1857 he was interested in the manufacture of soda Water.

The year 1858 found Mr. Brandon in Leavenworth, Kans., where he began a soda manufacturing business. The town, though then small, was the center of a large amount of business, owing to the fact that trains outfitted here for the west. From the first his business was a success. In 1862 he commenced brewing as a member of the firm of Block, Brandon & Kirmeyer. When Mr. Block entered the army the title was changed to Brandon & Kirmeyer. This continued until 1885, when the prohibition law closed his business, and his building was burned, causing the loss of all he had accumulated in twenty-five years. In 1893 the firm of Brandon & Beal was organized. They employ twelve hands and have built up a large business. The factory has a capacity of ten thousand barrels.

In national politics Mr. Brandon votes with the Democrats, but in 1ocal matters he is independent, preferring to vote for candidates best fitted for office rather than adhere strictly to party lines. He has served in the city council. He has done considerable building in the city, including his residence at No. 2 Io Dakota street and a store building on Pottawatomie street. While he keeps in touch with the firm's business, the active superintendent of the establishment is his son, Henry L., a capable young man, who is a graduate of the Milwaukee Brewers' Academy and the Chicago College of Pharmacy.

Page: 815

MICHAEL KIRMEYER, who was one of the early settlers of Leavenworth, and is still living in this city, was born in Munich, Bavaria, February 23, 1826. He spent his boyhood years upon a farm owned by his father, who was an extensive farmer and stockman, and made a specialty of raising race horses. When thirteen years of age he began to learn the butcher's trade, at which he served an apprenticeship of two years, and later followed the business until, in accordance with the laws of his country, he entered the army. His entire period of service in the army covered six years.

In 1857 Mr. Kirmeyer came over to our country on the "Little Conqueror" with his brother Joseph, and the two proceeded at once to Leavenworth, where they opened a butcher shop. After a year our subject purchased his brother's interest, and for two years continued alone, after which he engaged in the manufacture of soda and ginger ale for eighteen months alone and later with John Brandon as a partner. From that business he gradually drifted into the brewer's trade, and continued in the latter until 1888, when the prohibition laws caused him to close out and retire to private life. He is a member of the Turner society and a charter member of the Leavenworth Lodge, I. O. O. F. During war times he voted with the Republicans, being in sympathy with their policy as to the abolition of slavery; but of more recent years he has affiliated with the Democrats.

November 24, 1858, he married Miss Niederweiser, who was born in Ausburg, Germany, in 1834. They became the parents of ten children, but four died at an early age. The others are named as follows: Agnes, who is married and lives in Leavenworth; Michael, Jr., a traveling salesman; John H., deputy district clerk, residing in this city; Joseph, who is a photographer by occupation and is now in Memphis, Tenn.; Dolly A. and Bertha M., who are with their parents.