Some time ago, on one of our monthly Tucson History & Libation Walking Tours, I had the distinct pleasure to meet a fellow author, although at the time I did not know it.
Several days before the tour, I noted with interest that one of those who registered was a local lady named Bettina Lyons. This was curious, partly because “Bettina” is an unusual name. Moreover, I knew of only one other with that first name: Bettina Steinfeld.
Not that I had ever met Bettina Steinfeld. However, I did know that she was the wife of Albert Steinfeld, one of many German Jews, such as the Drachman’s, who became successful business pioneers of Tucson.
Sometime during the tour, Ms. Lyons revealed that she is the granddaughter of Albert and Bettina Steinfeld. I nearly had to catch my lower jaw before it hit the sidewalk. Standing before me was a lady whose local roots go back to 1860’s Tucson. Although she was raised in New York, she graduated from the U of A. From her unique perspective, she would undoubtedly know as much or more local history as I. My first thought was, “Boy, do I have a lot of history questions for you.”
When we reached the point of the tour where I usually tell a few stories about Albert Steinfeld and his fabulous department store and his luxurious Pioneer Hotel across the street, I asked Tina if she would share some of her family history with the tour group. And she did. What a delight!
I knew I had discovered yet another Tucson treasure, but I did not know how rich that treasure was until we reached the historic train depot and were enjoying lunch and libations at Maynards.
I was telling my group that I had written a book, Southern Arizona’s Extraordinary History, and that I had a few copies if anyone wanted to purchase one. Tina then mentioned that she too had authored a book.
“Really,” said I. “What is the title of your book?”
“Zeckendorf & Steinfeld” Merchant Princes of the American Southwest, published in 2008 by the Arizona Historical Society. I had to have it.
“Tell you what,” said I. “I’ll give you my book now if you will mail me your book.” Tina agreed and in a few days I received one of the most fascinating and authoritative histories of Tucson that I have ever read.
In the late 1860’s, the Zeckendorf brothers, Aaron, Louis, and William came to Tucson to start a mercantile business in what was then a dusty, dirty little Mexican village of perhaps 400 souls.
In 1871, Louis hired his teenage nephew, Albert Steinfeld, to work in the store. In the early years, Albert lived in a little room in the back of the store. Albert proved so valuable that by the time he was 26, he was managing partner in a going concern. And then he got involved in mining (such as the Copper Queen in Bisbee); banking, cattle ranching and many other enterprises, some of which he would regret.
By the time he was 28, Albert was very rich. Perhaps the only other Tucsonan who could command as much respect and influence for the good of the community might have been Epes Randolph, superintendent of the Southern Pacific Railroad. (“Epes” rhymes with “steps”)
Albert died in 1935. In his memoirs he wrote of his first impressions upon arriving in Tucson in 1871, population maybe 1,200.
“I did not expect to see much, but even in this respect I was disappointed, and I wondered if I had made a mistake in coming. I was very tired, worn out by the long stage trip (from Denver) … I went to bed early, and cried myself to sleep.”
“I was somewhat refreshed in the morning, the sun was shining warmly and I made up my mind that I was going to make the best of the situation, and even if I didn’t like it, I was going to teach myself to like it.”
Apparently, Albert taught himself well. As a hard-working young man, he was a millionaire back in the day when a million dollars was serious money. Of course, his fortune could not purchase what middle-class Tucsonans take for granted today; such as air conditioning; paved roads; modern hospital care; coast-to-coast travel in four and a half hours.
For example, in the 1870’s, before the arrival of the railroad, when Louis Zeckendorf and Albert Steinfeld ordered goods to be sold in their store from New York, delivery of the shipment took 4 to 5 months. After the railroad arrived in 1880, only 5 days. Wow!
Moreover, the railroad could haul goods to Tucson’s mercantile stores for up to 75% less than the huge freight wagons pulled by 10 or more mules. The economics of Tucson’s merchant class was changed forever. Many did not survive.
In Zeckendorf & Steinfeld, Tina is writing her family history. But this is also the history of Tucson and she writes from the perspective of an objective historian and includes, in nuanced detail, their triumphs and tragedies, struggles and sacrifices, family affections and bitter lawsuits.
By revealing her family’s business, warts and all, Tina lets us in on the pioneer experience as it really was.
Highly recommended!
Zeckendorfs and Steinfelds: Merchant Princes of the American Southwest. By Bettina Lyons.
