Everything You Wanted to
Know About St. Louis’ Most
Famous Family
Eberhard Anheuser
• Came to America in 1843;
Came to St. Louis in
1845
• Started as a Soap Maker
• Came in control of a
brewery after debtor
could not pay back his
loan
Adolphus Busch
• Born in 1839 in Germany;
comes to America in 1857
• Beer business brought
Adolphus in contact with
Anheuser
• Busch sold Anheuser
brewing goods
• Adolphus also began
courting Eberhard’s
daughter, Lilly Anheuser
Lilly Anheuser
• Only child of Eberhard’s
• Married Adolphus in
1861 when she was 17
• Adolphus was 20
minutes late to his own
wedding (he had to close
an important business
deal
• In 1865, Busch bought out Anheuser’s
partner’s share of the brewery and
became partner with his father-in-law;
he was 26
• The original beer produced was not very
good
• Anheuser and Busch began the practice of
beer promotions
• Breweries began sponsoring saloons
• In 1875, Anheuser’s Brewery became
incorporated
• 480 shares of stock was started out;
Anheuser & Family owned 240;
Adolphus owned 238 & Brewmaster
Erwin Spraul owned 2 shares
• In 1880, Eberhard died of throat cancer; Adolphus
becomes President
• Descendants of Anheusers will be given company
jobs but always underneath a Busch
• Adolphus began buying back stocks from
Anheusers to increase his control, eventually
gained 267 and Lilly’s to 116
• Once paid $60,000 for a single share
BUSCH’S Firsts
• Busch becomes 1st brewer to
pasteurize beer; allows company to
bottle and preserve beer for longer
periods of time
• Busch become 1st brewer to
nationally sell beer; first shipped to
Texas
How did Busch come up with the name Budweiser
• The name Budweiser was actually stolen
• Budweiser was originally produced by a Czech brewery
in the city of Budweis; it was only sold in Europe.
• Anheuser Busch bought out a brewery run by C. Conrad
(who was later given a lifetime job w/ AB) and thought it
had gained rights to the name
• When AB attempted to copyright the name in America,
Adolphus was taken to court by the Czech brewery
• AB settled out of court and eventually bought the
exclusive rights of Budweiser
• Adolphus and #1 Busch Place
• Busch & Wine Taste Testing
• Busch & The Blue Ribbon Contest
• Busch & Money
• Adolphus Busch died on Oct. 10,
1913
• He burial was one of the most
elaborate in St. Louis history
• When his coffin arrived in St. Louis,
several hundred people were already
lined up outside the Busch home
ready to view the body
• 100 hotel rooms were reserved for
out-of-town guests; there were 180
honorary pallbearers
• 5000 brewery workers were allowed
to view the body; over 30000
viewed the body when it was open
to the public
• 25 trucks were needed for the floral
arrangements
• To honor Busch, St. Louis
businesses halted business for 5
minutes at 2 pm
• The funeral procession began at the
Brewery and went to Bellefontaine
Cemetery; over 100000 people lined
the route
• Originally buried with no markings
on his grave; eventually a
mausoleum was created
•
The mausoleum cost $250,000; made
from pink granite; it was made to
resemble a German Gothic church
August A Busch Sr.
• Was Adolphus’ 3rd child;
second son (oldest son died
at 15)
• Originally wanted nothing
to do w/ brewery; wanted
to be a cowboy
• Will eventually takeover
business with the death of
father in 1913
• Known for building Grant’s Farm as personal
home (Busch estate is hidden in the middle of the
park.)
• Guided AB throughout Prohibition by investing
in:
-Non alcoholic beverages: BEVO
-yeast & barely, malt syrup business
-ice cream & soda business
-restaurant: Bevo Mill
• Bought and opened Sunset Hills Country Club
CELEBRATING THE END OF PROHIBITION-1933
August (Gussie) Busch Jr
• Was August Sr 4th child, 2nd
son (Adolphus III will take
over for 10 years)
• Married 4 times; known for
his playboy lifestyle
• Worked his way up from
the bottom of the business
(worked in the malt, brew,
bottling houses, etc.)
• Known for his savvy business decisions:
1. Regional breweries- St. Louis, Missouri (North American
headquarters)
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•
•
•
•
Baldwinsville, New York, Cartersville, Georgia, Columbus, Ohio, Fairfield, California, Fort Collins,
Colorado, Houston, Texas, Jacksonville, Florida, Van Nuys, Los Angeles, California, Merrimack, New
Hampshire, Newark, New Jersey, Williamsburg, Virginia
2. TV advertising
3. Metal Container Corp.- aluminum cans
Bought the St. Louis Cardinals & Sportmans Park in 1953;
will build Busch Stadium in 1966
Will open Busch’s Gardens in Florida & California
Bought Clyesdales for father to celebrate end of
Prohibition
Had an incredible taste for Budweiser
-taste test story
August Busch III
• Was Gussie’s 4th child, 1st son;
son of Gussie’s 2nd wife
• Will take over company in a
bitter power struggle w/
father.
-The Coup
• Accomplishments:
-Bud Light
-Drinking Education
Campaign
-Sea World
• The Helicopter Test/Work Ethic
August (Auggie) Busch IV
• Is August III oldest
son from 1st marriage
• Went to Parkway West
after leaving MICDS
• Known for his
“problems” with the
law
• Parkway West Graduate
-The Al Burr story
-Stogesdill story
• “The Drug Bust”
• “The Waitress”
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