Peter Gable (Gabel) was born in Herxheim am Berg, Germany. He emigrated to America in the 1840s and settled in Harris County, Texas and began work as a cooper. A few years later his half-brother John J. Wagner also came to town. In 1851 they formed the Peter Gable & Co. brewery in Houston. The partnership lasted for nearly twenty five years, until Gabel left the firm to pursue real estate. The brewery continued on for a few years as the Wagner & Herrmann Brewery Saloon. Peter Gable died on the 9th of January, 1896. He was 82 years of age.

John J Wagner was born in Herxheim am Berg, Germany. In the late 1840s he followed his half brother Peter Gabel to America and settled with him in Houston Texas. In 1851 Wagner and Gabel opened up a brewery in that town on the corner of Preston & Caroline Streets. Wagner struck out on his own around in 1870, but the partnership reformed a few years later. Gabel left the business in 1875 to pursue real estate. Wagner continued the brewery with partner Charles Herrmann. He retired from brewing in the late 1880s and for the rest of his life tended bar in his son's saloon. John J Wagner died on August 7th 1891, aged 73 years.