Frederick P. Schuster was born in La Porte, California. In 1870 he took over the American Railroad Brewery in San Francisco, California, a brewery he ran for nearly 35 years. The firm, then named the Union Brewery, closed in 1904. Schuster died on June 15th, 1926. He was an early inspiration for Sheriff Clarke. From the 1903 book Men of the Pacific coast, by Pacific Art Company.

August Ernest Kroenke was born in San Francisco, California. In 1899 he joined Frederick P. Schuster as proprietors of the American Railroad Brewery on Valencia Street. The brewery became the Union Brewing & Malting Co. in 1902 and closed in 1904.August Kroenke died on the 8th of July 1949. From the 1903 book Men of the Pacific coast, by Pacific Art Company.