George Ludwig/Lewis Neuhoff was born in Bonames, Frankfurt am Main, Hessen, Germany. In 1854 he founded that would evolve to become the Star Brewery of Belleville, Illinois. He died on April 13, 1887.

Hermann Heinrich Hubert Hartmann was born in Hannover, Stadt Hannover, Niedersachsen, Germany. He was partner with his brother in the Star Brewery of Belleville, Illinois. He died on the 1st of February, 1922 at age 92 years.

Bernardt Rudolph Arnold Hartmann was born in Ankum, Osnabrück, Lower Saxony, Germany. In 1862 he emigrated to America and within five years had married and settled down in Belleville, Illinois. In 1867 he bought a minority holding in the Star Brewery. In 1872 he brought his brother Hubert in as partner, and for the next 22 years Star Brewery was a family-owned business. Bernard Hartmann died on the 13th of November, 1919, just months before Prohibition forced his brewery to close.