Franz (Francis) Xaver Wochner was born in Dotternhausen, Germany. In January of 1840 his family emigrated to the United States through the port of New Orleans, Louisiana. They made their way up the river to St. Louis, then, Springfield Illinois. In 1861 he and his brother-in-law Anton Meyer started the Gambrinus Brewery in that town. Wochner died on February 19, 1899. The brewery continued on as the Meyer Brewery, with Anton's sons taking sole management.

Anton P. Meyer was born in Baden-Wuerttemberg, Germany. In 1850 he emigrated to America. He spent some time in New York City, learning the brewing trade and establishing a brewery of his own. Within ten years however he set out for the west, finally coming to rest in Bloomington Illinois. In 1861 at age 28 he partnered with F. X. Wochner to form the Meyer & Wochner Brewery in that town. Anton Meyer died on April 24, 1883. His son's took over the business upon his death.