Sacramento County
Biographies
HON. JOSEPH STEFFENS
To some extent a review of the life of Mr.
Steffens presents a commercial history of Sacramento
during the past forty or more years. In that long era of steadfast development
no movement of civic importance lacked the appreciative support of his keen
mind. No progressive project, trembling in the balance of civic doubt and
indecision, failed to secure the co-operation of his resolute and dauntless
spirit. Even his own weighty business enterprises with their long train of
attendant responsibilities were not allowed to narrow his influence with their
cumulative cares or to lessen the loyalty of his citizenship. Even when he
withdrew from commercial enterprises, he did not relinquish his participation
in local progress. Always in an unostentatious and unobtrusive but positive
manner he was a contributor to the advancement of city, county, and
commonwealth. Native sons of Sacramento who have reached middle age as citizens
of this community cannot recall a time when his name was not familiar to them
or when it did not stand for uprightness of character and sincerity of
citizenship.
Although a resident of the United States
from the period of his earliest recollections, Mr. Steffens
was of Canadian birth and parentage and was born in York, province of Ontario,
January 15, 1837, being a son of Joseph and Mary A. (Graham) Steffens. As early as 1840 the family removed from Canada
to Illinois and settled among the frontier farmers in Carroll county, where
they labored diligently to transform a tract of government land into a
productive and profitable farm. Into this difficult task every member of the
family was called, hence the young lad became familiar with hard work in early
life. However, not being naturally robust in health or rugged in constitution,
it became evident that he would not be able to engage actively in agriculture.
This seemed a misfortune, for in that period of our country's history farming
was the principal occupation and was also considered the most profitable. As in
many careers what seems a handicap proves a blessing in disguise, so it was
with him; the inability to stand the physical strain incident to farming caused
him to turn his attention to business and thus his life work allied him with
enterprises suited to his tastes, talent and temperament.
After having completed the regular course
of study in the Rock River Seminary and the business course of Bell's
Commercial College in Chicago, for several terms Mr. Steffens
taught school. From 1859 until 1862 he clerked with G. M. Clayton &
Brother, of Freeport, Ill., and in that position he gained a thorough knowledge
of paints and oils. Meanwhile having heard much concerning the climate and
opportunities of California, he resigned his position and during the spring of
1862 started across the plains with Levi Carter, of Stockton. On the 9th of
September he arrived in San Francisco. There he became bookkeeper with Fuller
& Heather, dealers in paints and oils. Soon demonstrating the value of his
services, his original salary of $50 per month was increased from time to time.
Upon the consolidation of the firm with Cameron, Whittier & Co., under the
title of Whittier, Fuller & Co., he remained with the new concern, which
eventually became the leading firm in its line in the west. The stores owned by
Fuller & Heather in San Francisco and Sacramento were acquired by their
successors and the headquarters of the new firm were established at the corner
of Fourth and Pine streets, San Francisco, where the young clerk remained for
one year.
Recognition of his remarkable business
ability and thorough knowledge of paints and oils caused the officials of the
company to appoint Mr. Steffens manager of the
Sacramento house in 1869 and to admit him in 1874 as a member of the firm, after
which he was placed in control of the financial affairs of the concern in this
part of the state. It was largely through his intelligent and intense devotion
to the business that the house gained a position second to none in its
specialty, and he continued his intimate identification with the developing
enterprises until long after the necessity for strenuous labor had ceased.
Meantime he had attained prominence in the citizenship of Sacramento. In
December of 1882, he was elected president of the Sacramento Board of Trade and
in that office he had charge of the publication of the annual reviews. These he
compiled and edited, thus giving permanent form to statistics of great value.
When the board was merged into the Chamber of Commerce he continued to serve as
president and his resignation in 1904 ended a long and honorable service as the
head of a most important organization. As a member of the Sacramento
Improvement Association and as a director of the California Museum Association
he was closely connected with two important enterprises of great value to
the community. For a number of years he acted as a member of the board of
directors of the state hospital at Stockton and his resignation deprived the
directorate of one of its most helpful members. After he had resigned all other
positions, he still consented, however, to serve as a director of the
California State Bank of Sacramento and made that institution his business
headquarters.
With the exception of casting a Republican
ballot at all elections Mr. Steffens was strenuously
opposed to any participation in politics. The uncertainties and vexations of
partisan affairs repelled him, presenting as they did an unattractive contrast
to commercial enterprises. Although he kept posted concerning national problems,
he declined any offers of nominations for himself with steadfast persistence
and the only time when his fellow-citizens prevailed upon him to become a
candidate was in 1884, when he permitted the party leaders to nominate him for
mayor on the Republican ticket. Although not a politician he possessed gifts as
a public speaker and writer, but preferred to devote these addresses and
writings to other matters than politics. When the last spike was driven at
Ashland, Ore., he delivered the address of the occasion, as he did also at
Placerville on the completion of the Southern Pacific Railway. At the Margaret
E. Crocker flower festival he was also the principal orator. His series of
letters to the Record-Union during his journey of twelve thousand
miles through the United States attracted wide attention and many of the
predictions as to the future of the country which he then made have become a
reality, indicating the accuracy of his forecasts.
The marriage of Mr. Steffens
and Miss E. Louisa Symes, of Hoboken, N. J., was
solemnized in San Francisco January 15, 1865. Their only son, Lincoln Steffens, is one of the most prominent writers in the
entire country and through his articles on municipal corruption and state governments, his name has become a household word. The three
daughters are: Louise, the wife of A. H. Suggett, of
San Francisco; Lottie, the wife of J. J. Hollister,
of Santa Barbara county; and Laura, who is an assistant in the State Library.
Mr. Steffen's demise occurred January 31, 1912, his wife having passed away
August 15, 1910. Thus Sacramento was bereft of another of her useful citizens
and upbuilders.
Transcribed by Sally Kaleta.
Source: Willis,
William L., History of Sacramento County,
California, Pages 853-856. Historic
Record Company,
© 2006 Sally Kaleta.