CHRISTIAN E. KLEIS

CHRISTIAN E. KLEIS.

A bottle used by the Kleis company in Dubuque. Photo courtesy: Bob Reding.

Photo courtesy: Jim Massey

Organized in 1865, the company, a continuation of the firm established by Christian E. Kleis was located at 455 Ninth Street. Seven workmen were employed in manufacturing soda water, ginger ale, seltzers, and all kinds of carbonated drinks. The bottling works also manufactured a large amount of pop and the more popular flavors of "jersey cream" and cherry.

In 1871, Kleis expanded his business by opening a plant in Waterloo with William Ewald. The property had been the site of the Shulze & Kicherer bottling plant. Operating this plant as Kleis & Ewald, the business met declining sales by the mid-1870s. In December 1876, Kleis sold his interest to Ewald who continued in business into the 1890s.

The 1922 Dubuque City Directory through 1948 Dubuque Classified Business Directory listed 55 9th.

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Source:

Burggraff, Mike. 2010 Update to the Antique Bottles of Iowa. Fairfield, Iowa: Frontline Printing & Design