website watertownhistory.org
ebook History of Watertown, Wisconsin
Joseph Bursinger
1822 - 1885
Brewery north side of Cady,
along Rock River
Ferdinand Bursinger
The History of Jefferson County, Wisconsin, Chicago: Western Historical Company, 1879.
Joseph
Bursinger, brewer, was born in Baden, Germany,
February 17, 1822, and came to Wisconsin in July, 1853, and located in
Milwaukee, where he engaged in brewing beer and cooperage. From Milwaukee he went to Waukesha Co., and
farmed for one year; then he came to Watertown and commenced the brewing of
beer, which he has continued up to the present time.
He
married, in November, 1849, Mary Voppiller, of Sigmeringen, Prussia.
He has two children living - Ferdinand
and Ellanora.
Mr.
and Mrs. Bursinger are members of St. Henry's
Catholic Church.
Ferdinand
Bursinger 
Ellanora Bursinger
Joseph
and Marie are buried in the St. Henry’s
Cemetery
_____________________
1865
01 19 AIDED
AT TIME OF PIONEER STORE FIRE
Had it
not been for Bursinger’s pump at time of Pioneer Store fire, the loss of business property and
inventory on Main Street would have been much more serious and extensive.
1877
12 26 WATERTOWN LAGER BEER BOTTLED
I am now bottling Watertown Lager Beer and am prepared to furnish it
(either Bursinger’s or Fuerman’s) in any quantities to families or saloons.
1908
01 07 It is always pleasing to be remembered by our friends and to receive
tokens of their appreciation for kindness and evidence of esteem and
respect. The above has special reference
to Mrs. Emilie Bursinger, the popular landlady of the
Bursinger boarding house on North First Street. Friday evening, the boarders at that
excellent home, feeling grateful for the care of which they had been the
recipients, presented Mrs. Bursinger with an elegant
parlor mirror. She was taken entirely by
surprise and as she had not anticipated anything of the kind, and of course it
was exceedingly gratifying to her, to receive an expression of the good wishes
and satisfaction of those who made her home their home. The occasion will long be remembered by the
recipient and those who contributed to the gift which made all concerned happy.
1948
Beer and
Cheese Cellars of Early Days Uncovered
In
1852 Joseph Bursinger established what was known as
the City Brewery and an old record here of the establishment says “it was
started with a capital of $2,000 and three employees until its success
compelled an increase of both.” This later
became a major brewery here. It later
was capitalized at $80,000. Its beer, an
old document here states, “is said to be made of pure malt and hops and no
drugs of any kind. Shipments are made
throughout Wisconsin”.
Cross References:
Hoeffner and Frohne started a distillery in 1849 at site of the
former Hoeffner's brewery which later passed over to Joseph Bursinger
[north side of Cady, east of bridge].
Mrs. Ferdinand Bursinger
Mrs. Ferdinand Bursinger
History of Watertown,
Wisconsin