Konrad (Conrad) Nickolas Kraft was born in Markt Dachsbach, Bavaria, Germany. He emigrated to America in 1871, arriving in Baltimore, Maryland. By 1872 he had settled in Cleveland, Ohio where he had obtained a position as a brewer with the Charles Gehring Brewery. By 1876 he had moved across town to Leonard Schlather's brewery. In 1880 Kraft partnered with John Schlap and purchased Manger & Schancie's brewery in Bluffton, Ohio. He was associated with this brewery until National Prohibition forced his retirement in 1920. Konrad Kraft died on February 25th, 1923. He was 71 years of age.