There are many Geuß families in the United Sates, emigrating mostly from Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Netherlands and the United Kingdom. The author of this website descended from the Geuß family that emigrated from Worms, Germany to Carrolltown, PA. Andrew Geuß was born near Worms in 1825. Andrew was trained by his family, including his father John, how to brew beer (brewer) and make barrels (cooper). Before 1850, Andrew traveled to America ahead of his brother (on the Shakespeare arriving 26 Aug 1848 in New York from Antwerp). On October 21, 1850 Andrew was living as a bachelor with Mr. and Mrs. William Byrely in Conemaugh, PA (date of census enumeration). Andrew's brother George (born Jan 27, 1833) immigrated in early 1860 and lived with Andrew’s family in Carrolltown. George married Caroline Vorhauer (b. Mar 27, 1842) prior to June 1862 and then moved to St. Louis by 1869, however they never had any children.

Meanwhile, in Tännesberg, Bavaria, Germany, Walburga Karl was born to Christopher (a butcher) and Maria Theresa (Birner) Karl around 1831 (PA death certificate on request). Christopher and Maria had four additional daughters before they set off to America in 1848. By 1860, Andrew and Walburga were married and had five children: William (b. 11 Apr 1852), John (b. ~1853), Frances (b. ~1855), Andrew Jr., (b. ~1857) and George (b. Jan 1860).  Philip, their youngest son, came later (b. 27 May 1862). Unfortunately Andrew Sr. died unexpectedly of smallpox on July 10, 1864 at 1AM. In 1870 Frank was living at home in Carrolltown with Walburga while she was raising George and Philip. William likely worked on a farm nearby, and was married and moved to St. Louis by 1876. Andrew Jr. was working on a farm nearby at age 12. Based on a personal interview with Walburga and Philip, we know John died in “young manhood,” so he may have died before 1870 or was working on a farm somewhere nearby. We are sill researching where William and John were in 1870.

In 1858 Andrew Sr. founded the Carrolltown Brewery with his partner, Julius Stich, Walburga’s brother-in-law (Julius Stich married Theresa Karl). After Andrew Sr. died unexpectedly in 1864, Julius Stich, the executor sold the brewery to Francis Barbrich, who resold it [back] to Mr. Stich. Julius conducted the brewery successfully for many years [19] and finally sold it to Frederic Eger who sold it to Celestine Farabaugh. It was next owned by Henry Swope in whose hands it was destroyed by fire [in 1900]. Andrew's brother George and Andrew's first son William went to St. Louis and worked in multiple breweries. George was a foreman at Green Tree Brewery (9th and Sidney) according to multiple St. Louis City Directories starting in 1872. He and Caroline lived next door on 9th St. all their life. George also served at J. Uhrig Brewery.  William cited the National Brewery (founded by John Hartmann and later bought by Lemp Brewery) address as his business listing in several St. Louis City Directories starting in 1877 (at Cherokee & Broadway). William worked at multiple breweries until the early 1900’s.