Joseph Balthasar Steiner (1846 - 1925)

Born 6 Jan 1846 in Gribsch, Canton Schwyz, Switzerland

Husband of Catharine F. (Diethelm) Steiner — married about 1880 in San Francisco, San Francisco Co, CA

Died 16 Mar 1925 at age 79 in San Francisco, San Francisco, California

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Biography

Joseph was born Jan 6, 1846 on Schnürlismatt Farm in the village of Gribsch, Canton Schwyz, Switzerland.^[1]

He immigrated to San Francisco, California in 1868.^[2] He appears in the San Francisco Directory in 1869, working as a cabinetmaker. In the directories for 1871-'76, his employer is Field & (Andrew) Frei. In '71 he lived at 667 Stevenson, and in '72-'76 at 147 Silver. ^[3]

In the June 1880 census, Joseph was still single, working as a Hotel Keeper (Helvetia Hotel) in San Francisco. His boarders were almost entirely male blue collar workers, plus 2 teen prostitutes and another unmarried girl whose only occupation was "keeps house". (She was listed directly above the prostitutes and may have been their madam.) The hotel's live-in help included 2 cooks, 2 porters and a Chinese servant. The neighborhood included hotels, saloons and a couple of brothels. (Pretty easy to distinguish the brothels because the female "boarder's" occupations were blatantly listed in the census as "Prostitute" and the houses were headed by women whose only occupation was "Keeps House".) Although guests at neighboring hotels were both native born Americans and immigrants from a variety of countries, the vast majority of Joseph's boarders were born in Switzerland, Prussia and Austria; all German speaking countries.

He married Katie Diethelm sometime after the census was taken in June 1880 and before their first child was born in Sept, 1881. She was from Minnesota, the daughter of Carl Diethelm and Elisabeth Fessler. They probably met when Katie's family spent a few years on the west coast in 1876-'78. The Diethelms may have deliberately sought Joseph out when they were in California because he was a boy from back home, and possibly a relative. (The Steiners and Katie's mother's family, the Fesslers, had close ties. Joseph came from the same Canton in Switzerland as Katie's parents and one of Katie's grandmothers was a Steiner. A Steiner family (not Joseph's) lived next door to the Fesslers' back in Switzerland, and two of Kate's Fessler uncles married Steiner sisters from that farm. In 1880, a Bar Keeper named Frank Fessler (b. abt 1854 in Switzerland) stayed at his hotel, but familial connection is unknown.)

From 1877 through '96 Joseph and a string of partners were co-proprietors of the Helvetia Hotel located at 431-433 Pine St, near current day Chinatown. Throughout the years his business partners were (in chronological order) Mr. Markwalder, Charles Dittmar, Anton Gamma, Frederick Gamma, and Mary Gamma.

Joseph lived at the hotel (431 Pine) both before and after his marriage, from 1877-'88. In 1888 he moved his family to 78 Brosnan. He and Katie had 5 children by this time; perhaps too many for the hotel. From 1895-'97 they lived at 80 Brosnan. Their homes on Brosnan were some distance away from his work but the cable car system was quite extensive in those days, making it a relatively easy commute.

From 1898 through 1918 Joseph was the proprietor of the San Bruno Hotel at 1540 San Bruno Ave, although for 3 of those years his occupation is listed in the directory as "boarder", and in 3 other years it's listed as "liquors". (Probably a saloon keeper.) Immediately after each hiatus, his occupation reverts back to "Proprietor" of the hotel. The San Bruno Hotel burned to the ground in 1899 (details in news story below) but must have been quickly rebuilt because the census was taken the following year which showed Joseph's family and 11 lodgers at the hotel's address. Joseph's occupation is listed as Saloon Keeper in the census, but the city directory that year said he was the proprietor of the hotel.

Their hotel is in the Mission District of San Francisco and they're renting this location. Although the Mission District was severely damaged in the great 1906 earthquake, their building survived. In the 1910 census He's an Inn Keeper with 14 male lodgers. Although they're still renting, Joseph is working on his own account, meaning he ran the hotel, but didn't own the building. A saloon is next door, occupied and operated by a bartender who is working for wages (possibly employed by the Steiners). Two of their son's occupations in 1910 perfectly demonstrated how fast the times were changing. One is a blacksmith at a carriage shop and the other is a chauffeur in an auto factory.

1918: Steiner, Jos (Katie), prop San Bruno Hotel, r 1470 San Bruno Av

1919: Steiner, Jos B (Katherine), 2747 Bryant

1920: Steiner, Jos P (Katerina), cabtmkr, r 2747 Bryant

1921: Steiner, Jos P (Katerina), cabtmkr, r 2747 Bryant

1922: Steiner, Jos (Katie), cabtmkr, r 2747 Bryant

1923: Steiner, Jos (Katie), cabtmkr, r 2747 Bryant

1924: Steiner, Jos B (Katie), cabtmkr, r 2747 Bryant

1925: Steiner, Jos V (Kath), cabtmkr, h 2543 Bryant

He and his family lived at the San Bruno Hotel for the entire 20 years he ran it. In 1919 they left the hotel business and moved to a pretty house at 2747 Bryant Ave. (The house is still standing and a street view of it can be seen in Google maps.) In the 1920 census Joseph is a carpenter, working for wages for someone else. When asked what kind of industry, he answered "House". He's a cabinetmaker in the city directory and continues in that trade for the rest of his life.

Joseph and Katie had a total of 13 children, though only 12 survived. He became a naturalized citizen in 1909.

He passed away at age 79 on Mar 16, 1925 in San Francisco, California and was buried at Holy Cross Cemetery, Colma, San Mateo County, CA on Mar 25th. His wife (who passed away in 1928) is interred with him. Two of their children, Antone (1887) and Theodore (1941) Steiner are interred together beside them.^[4][5]

News Articles

Daily Alta California - July 1887

SUPERIOR COURT SUITS

Action on a Promisory Note-Seeking the Owner of Money.

Joseph Steiner has brought suit against Felix Kuchler to recover $500 on a promisory note.^[6]

Daily Alta California - Aug 11, 1888

The Helvetia Endowment and Life Security Association has also incorporated, without any capital stock, as pecuniary profit is not the object of this corporation. The directors are: Frank Ruegg, Joseph Steiner, Christian Glunk and Charles Ryhuer.^[7]

San Francisco Call - May 3, 1895:

THE HELVETIA HOTEL PROPERTY

Joseph Steiner has sued Maria Antonia Gamma, as executrix of the will of Frederick Gamma, for an accounting of the conduct of the Helvitia Hotel, 431 Pine St.^[8]

San Francisco Call - Nov 17, 1895

FETED MINISTER PIODA,

The Swiss Colony Tenders a Reception to Its Envoy Extraordinary...

The Swiss colony of San Francisco tendered a grand reception and ball last night in National Hall, to the Hon. J.B. Pioda, Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary of Switzerland to the United States.

...The reception committee consisted of;...(numerous gentlemen including) Joseph Steiner.^[9]

San Francisco Call - Jan 30, 1899 (Story in many papers. This is most detailed report.)

FIRE CLAIMS TWO HELPLESS VICTIMS

An Aged Cripple and a Little Child Burned to Death.(Headlines combined for 2 different fires. 1 died in the hotel.)

The Old Man Left to His Fate by Excited Friends.

Heroism of a Boy Who Saved Baby From the Flames.

The San Bruno Hotel, an old landmark on the San Bruno Road, became food for flames shortly before the noon hour yesterday. An old man named Matthius Eichorn, who served in the capacity of a porter about the place, was hemmed in by the elements of destruction on the second story and perished before it was even known that he was in the building. A lodger named Kansauer leaped from a third-story window and was severely, though not fatally, injured.

The hotel was a three-story frame building and was run under the managment of Joseph Steiner. About half-past 11 yesterday morning fire started in a room on the second floor occupied by his children as sleeping apartments. After its discovery it gained headway with almost incredible rapidity, and soon flames were crackling in every part of the structure. As soon as it was known that the place was ablaze every one rushed pellmell through the lower part of the building without giving a thought to the ones who might be on the upper floors. A baby about 1 year of age was rescued by the heroic efforts of little Theodore Steiner, who made his way through the thick smoke and flames to a room where the child was sleeping, and carried it to the door below. The youngster is but 8 years of age, yet ventured into the building when the stairway creaked under his weight and when the fire lapped the walls around him.

Neighbors who were first to reach the scene asked the people in charge of the place if there was any one in the building. In their excitement they forgot old Matthius Eichorn and replied no. He was left to his fate until it was too late to render him any assistance. He was nearly 80 years of age and a cripple. His back was bent and his limbs were partially paralyzed. It is possible that he had sufficient time to escape, but his feeble condition prevented it. The room occupied by him was on the second floor in front. After the fire had left nothing but the framework of the old building erect his body hung across the charred rafters in sight of the firemen and finally fell through to the ground floor. It was burned beyond recognition and only a portion of the head remained; the limbs were entirely gone.

Henry Ransauer, an employee of the California Glue Works, was the only person on the third floor when the cry of fire was raised. When he bolted into the hall he found that it was already filled with smoke, and, thinking that there was no possible exit, rushed back into his room. He then lost his head and leaped from a window. He alighted on the roof of a shed a few feet above the ground and was picked up and taken to the receiving Hospital. He was injured across the chest, but not internally. He will recover shortly. While the fire was at its height a box of cartridges exploded and bullets whizzed in all directions. One of them passed within an inch of Police Sergeant Blank's head and imbedded itself in a fence across the street, while others made the crowd scatter.

Engine 13 was the first to reach the scene, but the firemen seeing the hopelessness of trying to save any part of the structure, turned their efforts to saving property in the vicinity. It was a hard fight and several firemen were badly burned in the attempt. Assistant Chief Fernandez was burned about the hands and Firemen M. Wright, J. Cheseney and Fred Wood of Truck 7 were scorched about the face.

The loss is estimated at about $3000 of which $1500 will be recovered by insurance. The building is owned by Mrs. Theresa Krager (Dick Cunningham according to the Los Angeles Herald) and is located at 1540 San Bruno Avenue. It was built years ago and was raised one story about three years back. It has always been occupied as a hotel and the rooms, there are about twenty, are always occupied. It is fortunate that the fire did not break out at night, for it is almost a certainty that most of the occupants would have become victims of the flames.

Matches handled carelessly by some of the younger children are supposed to have been the cause of the conflagration.

The body of Eichorn was removed to the Morgue. He was a native of Sweden (Switzerland according to another report) and is a distant relative to the proprietor of the place.^[10]

Sources

1. ↑ Full middle name & place of birth were provided in 07/04/13 email from A Fassler, Alpthal, Switzerland to pq. Full dob per FamilySearch.org family tree whose creator also cited Annemarie Fassler as their source.
2. ↑ Immigration per 1900 US Census
3. ↑ All San Francisco Directories found online via San Francisco Public Library at http://sfpl.org/index.php?pg=2000540401
4. ↑ "California Death Index, 1905-1939," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QKSM-6G95 : accessed 17 October 2015), Joseph B Steiner, 16 Mar 1925; citing 14670, Department of Health Services, Vital Statistics Department, Sacramento.
5. ↑ Find a Grave, database and images (accessed 25 April 2020), memorial page for Joseph B Steiner (6 Jan 1846–16 Mar 1925), Find A Grave: Memorial #108317775, citing Holy Cross Catholic Cemetery, Colma, San Mateo County, California, USA ; Maintained by Athanatos (contributor 46907585) .
6. ↑ CDNC California Digital Newspaper Collection http://cdnc.ucr.edu/cgi-bin/cdnc?a=d&d=DAC18870726.2.6&srpos=17&e=-------en--20--1--txt-txIN-%22Joseph+Steiner%22-------1
7. ↑ CDNC California Digital Newspaper Collection http://cdnc.ucr.edu/cgi-bin/cdnc?a=d&d=DAC18880811.2.21&srpos=9&e=-------en--20--1--txt-txIN-%22Joseph+steiner%22-------1
8. ↑ CDNC California Digital Newspaper Collection http://cdnc.ucr.edu/cgi-bin/cdnc?a=d&d=SFC18950503.2.133
9. ↑ CDNC California Digital Newspaper Collection http://cdnc.ucr.edu/cgi-bin/cdnc?a=d&d=SFC18951117.2.134&srpos=8&e=-------en--20-SFC-1--txt-txIN-%22Joseph+Steiner%22-------1
10. ↑ CDNC California Digital Newspaper Collection http://cdnc.ucr.edu/cgi-bin/cdnc?a=d&d=SFC18990130.2.163&srpos=7&e=-------en--20--1--txt-txIN-%22San+Bruno+Hotel%22-------1

Acknowledgments

Thanks to Pat Quinn for starting this profile. Click the Changes tab for the details of contributions by Pat and others.