Jacob Franz was born in Berghausen, Germany.  He emigrated to America in the 1850s and settled in LaCrosse, Wisconsin.  There he met Anna Margaretha Kappes and the two married on the 28th of September, 1858.  Franz established the Eagle Brewery in town around 1860. This brewery would eventually become the Franz Bartl Brewery, a firm that would continue to produce beer until 1950.

In 1869 Franz took his extended family down river to and opened up another brewery in Iowa City, Iowa, this time with the help of his brother-in-law Peter Kappes.  The two ran the brewery for a few years until Kappes moved to the other side of the state and opened a saloon.  Jacob Franz died on May 13th 1881 at age 55 years.  The brewery continued operating under management of his estate until 1888, when it closed down for good.

Ten years later the site was chosen as the location for the new Sioux City Brewing and Malting Company.  The old buildings were razed and a 100,000 barrel facility was erected in its place.  The new brewery made beer for thirsty midwesterners until 1960.