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Through provisions of the Land-Grant Act signed by President Lincoln in 1862, the Ohio General Assembly created the Ohio Agricultural and Mechanical College in 1870. Classes first began in 1873 with 24 students. In 1878 the college’s name was changed to Ohio State University. Their school colors are scarlet and grey and the school mascot is Brutus Buckeye, named after the state tree, the Ohio buckeye.

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The University of Minnesota was founded in 1851 as a preparatory school seven years before Minnesota became a state. The school closed during the Civil War due to financial problems, but reopen in 1867 with the help of John Sargent Pillsbury. The university’s two campuses are located in Minneapolis and Saint Paul, Minnesota. The official school colors are maroon and gold. They are nicknamed the Golden Gophers because of their mascot, Goldy Gopher.

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The University of Michigan is a public research university located in Ann Arbor, Michigan. Their official school colors are maize and blue. Nicknamed the wolverines, Michigan’s athletic teams compete in Division I of the NCAA and are part of the Big Ten Conference. Founded in 1817 in Detroit, the university moved to Ann Arbor in 1837 onto 40 acres of land. Classes in Ann Arbor were first held in 1841 with 2 professors and 7 students.

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Indiana University was founded in 1820 and the original campus was located in Bloomington, Indiana. Classes first began in 1824 with 10 students. Today the university has 8 different campuses in Bloomington and Indianapolis. The official school colors are cream and crimson. The school does not have a mascot, but students are known as Hoosiers. Hoosiers is a nickname for residents of Indiana.  

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Drake University is a private Division I university located in Des Moines, Iowa. The official school colors are blue and white and the school mascot is a bulldog. George Carpenter, a teacher and preacher, and Francis Marion Drake, a Union General and later governor of Iowa founded Drake University in 1881. Classes began that year in a single building with 77 students. Drake University was originally affiliated with the Christian Church, but today no religious affiliation is officially recognized.

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The University of Alabama is located in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. The official colors of the school are crimson and white and their athletic teams are nicknamed the Crimson Tide. Founded in 1820, it is the oldest and largest public university in Alabama.  The school saw brief glimpses of militarization through the training of troops for the Confederacy during the Civil War and again during World War II. Today the school is committed to education that produces socially conscious, ethical and well-rounded leaders.

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The Jay County Fair was first held in Portland, Indiana in October 1872 and celebrated its 100th anniversary in August of 1972. The fair continues to be held today and features concerts, demolition derbies, exhibitions, and hog wrestling. 

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At one time, Chicago had 166 breweries. The Garden City Brewery existed at 21st Place and South Albany Avenue between 1902 and 1925. National Prohibition which started in 1920 and ended in 1933, was hard on breweries as many were forced to close with the loss of business. The Garden City Brewery reopened in 1933 before finally closing in 1951.

Benefit associations are employee non-profit insurance companies. Members pay dues and might receive retirement pensions, health insurance, or help with funeral expenses. Before public or employer-offered insurance, benefit associations helped people organize and negotiate for health and life cost and expenses.

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F.A. Poth Brewing Company was a brewery in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Established in 1865 by German immigrant Frederick A. Poth, the company did not get a real start until 1887 when Poth was able to purchase land on which to build a brewery. After Poth's death in 1905, his sons sons inherited and continued to run the business, then renamed F.A. Poth and Sons. Like many breweries in early 20th century America, it was forced to close in 1920 when new laws declared the production and sale of alcohol illegal. During the years of operation, the brewery produced several beers and lagers, including the Tivoli Export pale beer.

See more photos of pre- and post-prohibition beer buttons on the Busy Beaver blog.