This page is for G. H. Krempp when he was a bottler in Princeton, Indiana.
George Henry Krempp (later spelled Kremp) was born in Jasper, Indiana on August 15, 1878. His father, Andrew Krempp, operated a bottling works in Jasper. George started as a delivery boy for his father before entering the bottling business himself in 1896 at Rockport, Indiana. However, he only operated that plant for about three months before selling his interest and returning to Jasper.
The Jasper Weekly Courier on February 11, 1898 mentioned that George was in Princeton making arrangements to open a mineral water factory there.
The Princeton Daily Clarion on March 19, 1898 reported that machinery for the new pop factory had arrived and was being installed in the Ward Block. The paper stated that George expected to begin making “fizz” by the following week.
A later article from the Princeton Clarion-Leader on March 24, 1898 confirmed that George would begin operating his pop factory that week.
By April 27, 1899, the Princeton Clarion-Leader reported that business had increased so rapidly that George planned to enlarge the plant and install additional machinery.
However, his time in Princeton was relatively short-lived. The Princeton Daily Clarion on August 15, 1899 reported that George had sold his pop factory to R. L. Lucas and would likely return to Jasper.
Based on these newspaper accounts, the Krempp bottling operation in Princeton appears to have lasted roughly a year and a half, operating from the spring of 1898 until August 1899.
After leaving Princeton, George returned to Jasper and married Elizabeth Troxler on April 24, 1900. Later that same year, he purchased a bottling works in Huntingburg, Indiana. He later acquired another bottling plant in Delphi, operating both plants for several years before eventually focusing on the Delphi operation.
In 1916, George sold the Delphi plant and returned to Jasper to take over the bottling works operated by his father. That same year, he signed a contract with the Coca-Cola Company to bottle and distribute Coca-Cola in the Jasper territory. In 1922, he purchased the Coca-Cola bottling plant in Washington, Indiana and moved there with his family. He remained active in the bottling industry and local business community for the rest of his life.
George H. Krempp died unexpectedly from a heart attack on May 30, 1942 while visiting family in Plymouth, Indiana. He was 63 years old. He is buried in Jasper, Indiana.
This bottle was not listed on HutchBook, and we could not locate any other known examples. If you have another example, please share it with us so we can document it.
Sources:
1) The Jasper Weekly Courier
February 11, 1898, p. 5
“Mr. Geo. H. Krempp spent Monday and Tuesday in Princeton making arrangements to open a Mineral Water Manufactory there in a few weeks. The people of Princeton will find George a genial and enterprising young man. The best wishes of hosts of friends in Jasper will follow him there. Success, George.”
2) Princeton Daily Clarion
March 19, 1898, p. 4
POP FACTORY.
“The machinery for the pop factory to be opened by Mr. G. H. Krempp, of Jasper, has arrived and is being placed in the north room of the Ward block. Mr. Krempp stated last night that he would be making ‘fizz’ by the first of next week.”
3) Princeton Clarion-Leader
March 24, 1898, p. 5
“G. H. Krempp, of Jasper, will start his pop factory this week. He is located in the north room of the Ward block. We wish him success.”
4) Princeton Clarion-Leader
April 27, 1899, p. 3
TO ENLARGE HIS PLANT.
“George Krempp, the ‘Fizz’iologist, To Make Extensive Improvements This Spring.
George Krempp, the manufacturer of mineral waters, who occupies rooms in the Ward block, is to enlarge his plant this spring. His rapidly increasing business demand that he put in more machinery and enlarge his quarters. He has rented another large room in the Ward block and will soon be ready to occupy it. He will make extensive improvements and get in shape to handle all orders.”
5) Princeton Daily Clarion
August 15, 1899, p. 4
FIZZ FACTORY SOLD.
“George H. Krempp has sold his pop factory to R. L. Lucas, of King Station, who, together with his son, O. S. Lucas, will operate the same in the future. Mr. Krempp will probably go back to Jasper, from whence he came. We wish him success and extend best wishes to the new proprietors.”
