San Luis Obispo County Biographies

A. SITTENFELD

Submitted by Peggy Hooper

This file is part of the California Genealogy & History Archives
http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~cagha/index.htm


A. SITTENFELD, the pioneer merchant of San Miguel, and one of its most 
prominent citizens, is a native of Prussia, Germany, born in 1855, of German 
parents. He received his early education there, and served an apprenticeship to the 
mercantile business, which proved of great value to him in after years. He came to the 
United States in 1870, and accepted a position as clerk in San Luis Obispo County, 
with the firm of Goldtree Bros. After being in their employ four years they started a store 
at San Miguel, in 1874, and Mr. Sittenfeld became a partner in the business, and was  
assigned the management of it; it was located near the old Mission building. There had 
been another man in business at that place, but he soon sold out to them, and for a  
number of years he had the only store in the town. The trade continued to grow under 
Mr. Sittenfeld's management until 1886, when the railroad was built. He then sold 
out to his partners, the Goldtree Bros., and organized the present firm of A. Sittenfeld 
& Co., general merchandise dealers, Mr. Mandersheid being the other member of the 
firm. They have established their store in the business center of the town and carry a 
large stock, which is kept up in excellent style, neatness and order prevailing through- 
out the store. Mr. Sittenfeld, as a business man, is a "success," collecting about him a 
large circle of friends and still keeping his old customers with him. They have a branch 
store at Cholame, employing six men in both stores, including themselves, both taking an 
active part in the business. Mr. Sittenfeld has purchased a 160-aore ranch, a mile and a 
quarter from town, on which he takes great pleasure in making improvements. He has 
planted a large variety of trees and vines; and there are a large number of oak trees 
on the ranch, which naturally add to the beauty and picturesqueness of the place. The 
farm is devoted to wheat. For many years Mr. Sittenfeld was the Postmaster of San 
Miguel, and for twelve years was Wells, Fargo & Co.'s agent, and has also held the 
office of Justice of the Peace at Parkfield, Monterey County. 

Notwithstanding the amount of business he is doing, and the length of time in business, 
he is still a young and single gentleman, but the fixing of this nice place so near the 
town would seem to indicate that Mr. Sittenfeld does not always intend to board at the hotel, 
and that there are to be still other chapters of interest in his history! 

History of Santa Barbara, San Luis Obispo and Ventura Counties, California  - by 
C.M. Gidney, Benjamin Brooks, Edwin M. Sheridan, Vol I, II.  -Lewis Publ. Co., 
Chicago, 1917.