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Note: 841, at age 15, first settling in Wheeling, West Virginia, where he lived for seven years before returning to Germany for his health. In July, 1849, he returned to the United States and settled in St. Louis with his brothers Charles and Jacob. In St. Louis, the three brothers conducted the City Brewery located at Collins and Biddle Street. Another brother William Frederick had immigrated to the U. S. in 1839 and settled in St. Louis by 1843, when he started a small brewery with Julius Winkelmeyer. William Frederick died of cholera on June 28th, 1849. In 1850, Christopher and his brothers Charles and Jacob were living in the same household in St. Louis; the head of the household was Charles who was listed as a brewer and boarding [house] with $3000 worth of real estate; Jacob is also a brewer, no real estate; Christopher is listed as a bar keeper, no real estate. In the 1859 St. Louis City Directory, Christopher A. Stifel is listed, occupation: saloon, 40 Cherry. At the time of the 1860 census, Christopher “Stieffel” age 33 was a Saloon Keeper with $2000 worth of real estate and $700 worth of personal property. He is probably the C. A. Stifel who served as a Captain in the “Southwest Expedition” (Kansas-Missouri Border Troubles), 1860.
“At the beginning of the civil war he organized from among the Turners of St. Louis a splendid Cavalry company, and after some delay, went with it to Kansas under the command of General Lyon.” While at Camp Lewis “Captain Chris Stifel” proposed “that a synopsis of the commands should be printed in German for the benefit of the soldiers,” and that a translator 'be employed to coach the German soldiers to an understanding of the different words of command.” The 1890 Veterans census of St. Louis lists Christopher A. Stifel, Lieut., 10 EMM, 5 months service from Apr. 1864 to Sept. 1864.
In 1863, Christopher gave up his interest in the City Brewery to go into the wholesale leaf tobacco business, forming a partnership with Leonard Emil Plochmann. The 1864 St. Louis Directory lists “Stifel & Plochman (Christopher A. Stifel & Emil Plochman) tobacco & cigar mfrs. 13 Pine;” Christopher's residence was given as “Rosatti, b. Sidney & Linch.”
Emil Plochmann died on June 27, 1867, ending the partnership. By 1869, Christopher had formed a new partnership with Edward W. Benson. Their company is listed in the St. Louis Directory of that year as “Stifel & Benson (Christoph A. Stifel & Edward W. Benson) whol. Tobacco dealers 119 Pine.” In 1869, Christopher and family resided at 1713 Market, where they appear to have lived until the 1870's. In the 1870 census, Christopher “Stefel,” is listed, age 42, occupation “Tobacco Mer” (no real estate is listed, but that must be an error). Christopher appears to have become quite prosperous by the time of the 1870 St. Louis Directory when he was listed as a proprietor of Julius Winklemeyer & Co, Stifel & Benson, vice president of German Fire Insurance Company, vice president of German Bank of St. Louis, and a director of German Mutual Life Insurance Company. By 1870, Christopher's brother-in-law Julius Hammerstein had become a partner in Stifel & Benson which was listed as “tobacco dealers” at 119 Pine. Julius Hammerstein is not listed as a partner in Stifel and Benson in the 1871 or 1879 St. Louis Directories, but is listed as a partner in 1880, along with Frederick Recklein. By 1879, Christopher and family had moved to 966 Chouteau Avenue, where he lived for the rest of his life. Frederick Recklein died February 9, 1882; and the partnership continued as Stifel & Benson, proprietors Christopher A. Stifel, Edward W. Benson and Julius Hammerstien, and was still doing business at 199 Pine at the time of the 1890 City Directory. Christopher retired from active business in 1891, but later became President of the German Life Insurance Company, holding that office at the time of his death. He was President of the Jefferson Mutual Fire Insurance Company at the time of his death. Edward Benson died October 24, 1895. His will names “my friend Christoph A. Stifel” as executor and guardian of his two minor children.
Christopher was founder of the Missouri Crematory Association, and its president at the time of his wife's death in 1891. He was a “member of the first City Council under the New Scheme and Charter and founder of the St. Louis Gymnastic Society, which was organized in 1853.”He was a “founder of the St. Louis Ethical Society.” At the time of his death Christopher's estate was valued at over $92,000, not including four parcels of real estate.
Sources:
St. Louis census records
St. Louis City Directories
Obituaries of Christopher A. Stifel, Emilie Stifel, Christina Stifel Winkelmeyer
Published biographies of John Luis Ludwig Stifel, Julius Winklemeyer and others
“Soldiers Database: War of 1812 - World War I” Missouri State Archives
1890 Veterans census of St. Louis
Note: Christoph (Christopher) Adam Stifel immigrated to the United States in 1
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