San
Joaquin County
Biographies
GUSTAV H. ALTENHOFF
One of Stockton’s successful
merchants, whose industry and application have enabled him to build up a
prosperous business, is Gustav H. Altenhoff, the proprietor of the Central
Bazaar at 17 South California Street. He
was born in Essen, Germany, May 26, 1869 and from the age of fourteen worked in
the coal mines there until he was twenty years old. The prospect of enlarged opportunities caused
him to leave his native land in 1889, and in August of that year he arrived in
California. The first year of his
residence here he worked on a ranch east of Stockton for eight dollars a month,
putting in long hours, from 5 o’clock in the morning to 11 o’clock at night. Next he was employed as a cook at a
restaurant at the San Joaquin County Fairgrounds and then was employed by his
uncle, T H. Eicholz, in his general merchandise store
in the old Masonic Temple Building on North El Dorado Street.
On February 13, 1891 Mr. Altenhoff
started in business for himself in a little store only eight by ten feet, on
California and Market streets, handling tinware and
notions. From that small beginning he
has advanced in his business to his present commodious store at 19 South
California Street. It is one of the largest
retail establishments in Stockton, occupying three floors and a basement,
dealing in household goods, toys, etc., and has been the firm’s home since
1906. He has built up this business by
dealing honorably with the people, giving good values and courteous treatment.
Mr. Altenhoff’s
marriage, which occurred at Tracy August 23, 1893, united him with Miss Frances
Gunder, a native of Silesia, Germany, and they have
one son, Henry G., who is married and has a daughter, Lillian Frances. In the summer of 1922 Mr. and Mrs. Altenhoff
took a trip back to their native land, which Mr. Altenhoff had not seen for
thirty-three years, and among the pleasant events of their journey was a
banquet tendered by Mr. Altenhoff to sixty-eight of his boyhood friends. They also attended the Passion
Play at Oberammergau, and many places of interest, but were glad to
return to their California home. In
fraternal life Mr. Altenhoff is a member of the Druids and Fidelity Lodge.
Transcribed by V. Gerald Iaquinta.
Source: Tinkham, George
H., History of San Joaquin County, California , Page
1347. Los Angeles, Calif.: Historic
Record Co., 1923.
© 2011 V. Gerald Iaquinta.
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