Louis Busch was born in Blue Island Illinois. Busch was the son of Busch & Brand Brewery co-owner Valentine Busch. Upon his father's death in 1872 the Busch sons managed the firm. Louis took complete control of operations in 1876. In 1898 the brewery was incorporated into the United Breweries Inc., syndicate. Louis Busch died on May 11th, 1914.

The Great Chicago Fire devastates the city of Chicago.  3.3 square miles of the city were leveled, 300 people are killed and an estimated 100,000 people were left homeless.  In addition the breweries of John A. Huck, Conrad Seipp, Lill & Diversey, Busch & Brand, J. J. Sands, George Metz and others were destroyed.  Some rebuilt, some were gone forever.