Cornerstone Family Businesses: Tofft Hardware

Author's note: Welcome to our limited series of "Cornerstone Family Businesses." I have chosen this title because the family businesses in this series are truly the cornerstones of Lincoln. Without them, Lincoln would have simply been a dusty road to Marysville with only Gladding, McBean & Co. on the way. - MBO Tofft Hardware was in business for 99 years, a constant for generations of Lincoln residents. But before talking about Tofft Hardware, we must go to the beginning of the Toffts in California, with the focus placed on the retail merchant side of the family. The family began with William and Maria Ziegenbein, and Maria Christine and Robert J. Tofft Sr. The Ziegenbeins emigrated from Germany and settled in Daneville, in the area of Gladding and Fleming roads. William and Maria had one son, John, and one daughter, Johanna. John Ziegenbein built Lincoln's first brick commercial building on the northeast corner of 5th and G in about 1861, where he opened a grocery and general store. (The building is now known as the Fleming Building.) William Ziegenbein, considered Lincoln's first entrepreneur, had many business dealings in Lincoln and the surrounding areas. William and Maria's daughter, Johanna, married Christian Kier, the owner of the seventh-largest ranch in Western Placer County, located on the southeast corner of where Fleming and McCourtney roads now intersect. Johanna and Christian's daughter, Anna Maria Kier, married Robert J. "Bob" Tofft Jr., the son of Robert J. Tofft Sr. Robert Sr. and Maria emigrated from Denmark in the early 1860s and settled on a ranch near the present Kilaga Springs Road outside of Lincoln. The son of Robert Tofft Jr. was Julius "Jute" Tofft. Jute was born on Oakwood Ranch, about six miles north of Lincoln on McCourtney Road. Jute Tofft began the merchant business. Before, 1905 Jute Tofft worked for C.E. Finney, a general merchandise store, in the I.O.O.F. building at 645 5th Street. The propitious beginning of Tofft Hardware was around the year 1905 as Tofft and Kier-The Model Store, selling groceries, crockery and light hardware. The business was a partnership between J.E. (Jute) Tofft and Jute's uncle, Clarence Kier. The first location was at the north end of the Jansen Block building at the corner of 5th and G streets, now known as Lincoln Boulevard. (The Waffle Shop resides there today.) In about 1908-09, Jute bought out his partner, Clarence Kier, and continued business as sole proprietorship of J.E. Tofft-The Model Grocer." On April 5, 1912, a corporation was formed DBA Finney-Tofft Mercantile Co. with stockholders C.E. (Ed) Finney, J.E. (Jute) Tofft, William Hughes and Robert J. (Bob) Tofft (and possibly Harry Gibbs). The mercantile sold general merchandise, hardware, housewares, home furnishings and wearing apparel. The corporation was dissolved in 1914 or early 1915. In 1914 or early 1915, Jute formed a partnership with his brother-in-law, George A. Johnson, DBA Tofft and Johnson, selling groceries, ammunition, wines and distilled liquors. (The sale of liquor ceased in 1917 when the National Prohibition Act was passed by the U.S. Congress. Prohibition ended after the 1929 stock market crash.) The business remained on the corner of 5th and G but now had an addition to the store front connecting it with Jansen's feed store. (Currently, the location houses two businesses at 472 and 490 Lincoln Blvd.) In 1918, Jute purchased George Johnson's interest and operated as J.E. Tofft, Grocer as a sole proprietorship. This store was located in the Emmada Building, 537 G Street. In 1920, the brother of Bob, Hans J. Tofft, became a partner in the business DBA Tofft Hardware. They were in business as a partnership until 1930, selling a full line of hardware, housewares, plumbing, (supplies and labor) home furnishings, blasting powder, dynamite and caps, firearms and ammunition, and sporting goods. In 1928 or early 1929, Jute opened a second grocery store in a new building built for, and owned by, Charles F. Beermann on the northwest corner of the intersection of 5th and F streets. The G Street store continued as a cash grocery and the new store on F operated as a credit grocery. The cash grocery on G was sold to E.R. Owens after a few years. On Dec. 3, 1939, the J.E. Tofft Grocery was sold to Jute's youngest son, Jack J. Tofft, who continued to operate the store as Tofft Grocery. On June 14, 1940, Jute entered into a partnership with another son, Robert S. Tofft, DBA Tofft Hardware at 615 5th Street in a building owned (or in the process of being purchased) by Jute and Robert. The building was purchased from the Bank of Lincoln in 1936. The Bank of Lincoln was liquidating as a result of the Great Depression. Jute continued in the Tofft Hardware business until his death on July 25, 1948. The business continued with Robert S. as sole proprietor. On March 24, 1966, Bob (Robert S.) purchased the building that adjoins the east wall of the 615 5th Street location. The Bank of Lincoln was once on the corner, facing 5th. After extensive remodeling, three units (603 and 607 5th Street and 490 F Street) were leased to tenants. Bob retired on Dec. 18, 1972, due to ill health and his son, Robert "John" Tofft, took the reins, more than ready. He began working in the store at the age of 10 and became manager at the age of 18. He managed in every sense of the word, from acquiring employees to ordering merchandise, helping customers, etc. He was always on the floor, greeting customers, at the register, anywhere he was needed. On Oct. 1, 1974, John acquired ownership of the hardware business and the two buildings occupied by the store. John and his wife, Pattie, continued in business as Tofft "Ace" Hardware at 615 5th Street from Oct. 1, 1974, until the spring of 1985, when they purchased the former Rainbow Market building at 720 5th Street (now Dollar Tree). No matter the location, the store was always bustling. I have long found it remarkable that during the many years John and Pattie owned and operated the store they always had time for a visit with new and old friends. The rapid growth of Lincoln brought Lowe's and The Home Depot to town, sadly killing this cornerstone family business. On July 31, 2004, John and Pattie sold the business to Lincoln "Ace" Hardware, which failed in one year. The facts in this story were generously and graciously shared with me by Mr. John Tofft, who lives in the lovingly cared-for home in which he was raised, one of Lincoln's most beautiful residences. The home was built in 1915 for Walter Jansen (he of another cornerstone family business), selling to John's father, R.S. Tofft, in December 1944. Mr. Tofft has painstakingly cared for his home, preserving its many original attributes. He has lovingly recorded the history of Tofft businesses as well as family genealogy, which includes a carefully written – in his neat, all-caps style – large family tree. A note Mr. Tofft wrote on one of his smaller charts says, "Most of the Tofft family live in Lincoln. We like it here." Most folks who have lived in Lincoln for more than 20 years will probably tell you a trip to Tofft Hardware was a delight. Mr. Tofft, Mrs. Tofft and store staff had a surprisingly large inventory and all knew the intended use of each item, big or small. If Tofft Hardware didn't have what the customer was seeking, it would quickly arrive with a friendly call to notify the customer. Mr. Tofft is blessed with what appears to be an eidetic memory. He can recall the history of our town in great detail with names and dates back to its inception. This includes the history of Lincoln homes and their families. Conversing with him is akin to a lesson one didn't know one needed. He speaks in a soft voice, knowledge pouring from his lips with ease. He answered my questions with patience and erudition. I drove home happily, my head full of information, hoping I could retain at least a fraction of what I learned. Mr. Tofft has not asked for, nor does he expect, accolades from me or any other resident. He does deserve it, though. He is documenting history because he enjoys it and wants his family to know their history. He has a gift for erudition, and I had the great pleasure to be his lucky student. Thank you, Johnny. The adventurous tale of Robert J. Tofft Sr. is its own story. John also has this record, written in the hand of H.J. Tofft on Valley Lodge No. 107 I.O.O.F. stationery. Its title is "History of the Life of R.J. Tofft, Sr. As I Know It."