F. B. Smith succeeded Bliesmer after his passing and bottled Guenther Bros. Excelsior Beer at 302 Tyler Street.
Marcus Heinrich Bliesmer was born on June 7, 1853 in Germany. According to the 1900 U.S. Census, he immigrated to the United States in 1880. He married Elizabeth Kahr on August 5, 1881 in La Porte.
We couldn’t find much additional information on Bliesmer. The earliest city directory available, from 1890, lists him under “Saloons and Sample Rooms” as Bliesmer & Weidner at 916 Main Street. The 1893–1894 directory shows him working with his brother August under the name Bliesmer Bros., selling fine boots, shoes, and rubber goods. A South Bend Tribune article dated March 13, 1896 reported that his shoe business made an assignment for debt. It is likely that he entered the beer-bottling trade sometime after this, bottling beer for Guenther Bros., and continued in that line of work until his death on November 13, 1904, at the age of 51.
F. B. Smith succeeded Bliesmer after his passing and bottled Guenther Bros. Excelsior Beer at 302 Tyler Street.
He is buried in Patton Cemetery in La Porte.
LAPORTE, Ind., March 13.—Marcus H. Bliesmer, the largest boot and shoe house in the city, made an assignment last night. The liabilities are $5,000 and the assets $9,000. It is announced that every cent of indebtedness will be paid. The South Bend Tribune, March 13, 1896.
1890 — Bliesmer Marcus, (Bliesmer & Wiedner) wines and liquors, 916 Main Street, residence at 918 Main Street.
1893-1894 — Bliesmer Marcus H (Bliesmer Bros), home at 215 G Street. Bliesmer Bros (August F and Marcus H), fine boots, shoes and rubber goods. 816 Main Street.
1897-1898 — Bliesmer, Marcus H. (Elizabeth), bottler of Guenther Bros. Excelsior Lager Beer, phone 279, 302 Tyler Street, home is 215 G Street.
1899, 1902 & 1904 — Bliesmer, Marcus H. (Elizabeth), bottler of Guenther Bros. Excelsior Lager Beer, phone 279, 302 Tyler Street, home is the same address.
