Franz Xavier Steil was born in Kelheim, Bavaria, Germany.  He emigrated to America with his family in May of 1854.  It is possible that Xavier worked in the Farmer's Brewery (the future Binzel Brewery) on Madison Street, as here he would have both learned the art of brewing and become aquainted with his future brother-in-law George Amann.

On October 13th, 1866 Steil joined Amann's sister Frances Amann in matrimony.  It was a union that would produce seven children as well as a new career path for the groom. George Amann was apparently keen to leave the business of brewery ownership and he sold out in July of 1866 to partners Berthold & Schmidt.  Under their management the brewery promptly burned down, and Aman reclaimed ownership for the unpaid deed. 

In 1868 Aman sold the empty property Franz Xavier Steil, who (quite possibly with his father George Steil's monetary assistance) rebuilt the brewery from the ground up.  The firm was called the New Brewery and it managed to eek out a market share in the crowded Beaver Dam brewery scene.  Steil ran the firm for a decade and a half and then it was all over.

On the 29th of June, 1885 a fire once again consumed the brewhouse on Spring Street. Xavier and Frances escaped with their newborn out a second floor window.  Their three older children who were sleeping in another part of the residence died in the flames.

Franz Xavier Steil never rebuilt the brewery.  He found employment at the Goeggerle brewery as a "Day Laborer" according to the census.  He died on September 20, 1909 at the age of 66.

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