John Peter Mergen, well known as a brewer of Council Bluffs, his native city, was born May 26, 1876. His father, John Mergen, was born in Beezlebach, Luxemburg, Germany, December 16, 1837, and died in Council Bluffs, July 15, 1901. On coming to America he had located in Omaha in the early '50's and there he engaged in gardening until after the outbreak of the Civil War, when he enlisted in defense of the Union cause, serving with Company B of the First Nebraska Regiment under General Thayer. At the close of the war he came to this city, where he engaged in the grocery and liquor business, in which he continued up to the time of his death He was a man of sterling worth and attended strictly to his own affairs. He never held an elective office and took but little interest in politics by was very devoted to his family and loyal to his large circle of friends.

He was married to Elizabeth Rautenkranz, in Council Bluffs, in the early '70's. She was born in Germany, December 24, 1849, and came to this country a few years prior to her marriage. She now makes her home at No. 709 South Sixth Street and is a member of the Catholic Church, of which her husband was also a communicant during his life. He likewise affiliated with the Catholic Knights of America. In their family were three children, Anna, the eldest, is the wife of Jacob M. Krug, of the Krug Brewing Company of Omaha. She was educated at St. Francis Academy in this city, is also a member of the Catholic Church and by her marriage has become the mother of one daughter, Clara, born in 1907. Lena M. Mergen, born December 24, 1874, was educated at St. Francis Academy and is living with her mother.

John Peter Mergen, the only son, was a student in the public schools of Council Bluffs in early youth and for three years attended St. Benedict's College in Atchison, Kansas, where he was graduated in 1893, being the youngest pupil to complete the course in that institution. He was married September 7, 1898, to Miss Ellen Frances McGann, a daughter of Hugh and Anna McGann, of this city. Mrs. Mergen was born and reared here and was educated in the public schools. She, too, is a member of the Catholic Church and is identified with the Degree of Honor. By her marriage she has become the mother of two daughters: Rodna Marguerite, born November 3, 1899; and Cecil, born August 3, 1901.

Mr. Mergen is now manager for the Willow Springs Brewing Company of Council Bluffs, having been connected with this industrial enterprise since 1905. His office is at No. 617 Main Street, while the brewery is located at Third and Hickory Streets, Omaha, Nebraska. It was formerly owned by the Nebraska Brewery Company, but was purchased by the present company in 1903, since which time the business has rapidly grown, while extensive additions and improvements have necessarily been made in order to meet the increased demand for the output of this celebrated brewery, which is recognized as one of the leading enterprises of this character in the west. Much credit is due to Mr. Mergen for the success of the business. He is a genial, whole-souled, public-spirited citizen, highly esteemed in the community. He belong to the Catholic Church and is without aspiration for political office, preferring to devote his entire time to his business interests. He is yet a young man but he occupies a responsible position in trade circles, his ability winning for him his present place in the commercial world.