George Michael Blattner was born in Steinweiler, Germany. Inn 1854 the Blattner family emigrated to America through New York City. They homesteaded in Pella City Iowa where George began farming. Sometime around 1864 he partnered with E. Schubring and M. Schroeder to form a brewery. The brewery operated under various partnerships for over twenty years, finally closing in 1885. Blattner died on the 5th of January, 1911, just days after his 81st birthday.