Michael Darmstaetter was born in Framersheim, Germany. In 1850 he and his family fled Prussia and sought refuge in America. They settled down in Detroit, Michigan and the elder Darmstaetter started a brewery with his children in employ. Although Michael died in 1892, his Columbia Brewing Co. family business survived him by 25 years.

Wilhelm (William) Darmstaetter was born in Framersheim, Germany. in 1850 he and his parents emigrated to America and settled down in Detroit, Michigan. In 1852 His father established a brewery in that city, with his sons in employ. By 1856 Jacob had taken over management of the brewery. In 1865 management duties were passed to older son William. While William died on October 29, 1913, the rest of the Darmstaetter brothers ran the brewery until it closed, in 1917.

Jacob Darmstaetter was born in Framersheim Germany. His family emigrated to America in 1845, when Jacob was just 12. They settled in New York City where young Jacob apprenticed as a baker.  At age 18 Jacob and his family moved to Detroit, where his brother William established a brewery on the corner of Riopelle and Sherman Streets.  William brought Jacob in as a partner in 1856.

In 1860 Jacob married Louisa Koch, a 20-year-old fellow immigrant from Saxony.  Together they had eight children, one of whom died in infancy.

Darmstaetter's brewery prospered until 1865, when, as brothers do, they had a falling out.  Jacob left the firm and started a competing brewery called the West Side, across town on Howard Street near 13th.  Despite the brotherly competition, both businesses did well.  In 1886 Jacob Darmstaetter retired from business and passed his brewery on to his two sons Hermann and Gustave. 

Jacob Darmstaetter died on the 2nd of June, 1898.  He was 65 years of age.

Under his son's leadership the West Side Brewery prospered until prohibition, after which brewery operations were shut down.  The factory was re-named the Mundus Products Company and struggled making near beer and other products for thirteen dry years.  Upon repeal the firm re-opened as the Mundus Brewing Co., but it was a new world, and competition, both locally and nationally was fierce, and the brewery closed for good in 1935.