Steitz, John August

John August Steitz was born in Skadofsky, Samara, Russia, on December 14, 1869, to farmer John Peter Steitz and Mary Kruzel. After marrying Christina Deil in 1890, he immigrated to California and settled in Fresno in 1893. He initially worked for brick manufacturer Spaning and helped erect local landmarks like the Hughes Hotel before a three-story fall forced him to abandon building work.

Transitioning to commerce, John drove a bakery wagon for three years before purchasing a merchandise store on South F Street in 1903. On August 17, 1908, he acquired new property to build a store and residence where he successfully sold dry goods, hardware, groceries, and meats. Widowed from his first wife, with whom he had seven children, he later married Maggie Deubert, fathering four more children, while serving as a Republican citizen and trustee for the Free Evangelical Lutheran Cross Church.