Agosthon Molitor began his work as an assayer in California in 1851 in partnership with fellow Hungarians Samuel Wass and Charles Uznay in the firm of Wass, Molitor and Company, one of the most important private coinage ventures in the west. He left California in 1856. His story as an independent assayer begins on his return to that state in 1859. Stephen Molitor, his son, had a checkered career through many western mining camps and even into Canada, working as a tramp assayer (as Fred Hola- bird so aptly described him) in the 1860s and 1870s. By 1884-5 he was located in Tinton, South Dakota (then Dakota Territory) and had joined with others to form the American Tin Mining Company. Molitor was its assayer. However, the tin boom quickly faded and by the beginning of 1893 tin was played out and with it, Stephen Molitor’s recorded career as an assayer.

A Timeline of Augustus S. and Stephen Molitor's Happenings, according to local records and documents:

1857

The firm of Wass, Molitor & Co., assayers of Gold and Silver, is this day dissolved by mutual consent, and their business will be settled by Charles Uznay, a member of said firm, and now a member of the house of Haraszthy, Uznay & Co., Gold and Silver Refiners and Assayers, office No. 85 Battery Street, between Commercial and Sacramento. The Assay Laboratory of the late firm having been transferred, and connected with the new Refinery the friends and depositors who have heretofore deposited with Wass, Molitor & Co., are respectfully solicited to continue their business with the new firm of Haraszthy, Uznay & Co.

(Signed) S.C. Wass, A.P. Molitor, Chas. Uznay
Alta California, March 17, 1857

1858

Molitor, Stephen F. Assayer Dwells at 67 Dupont
Langley’s San Francisco Directory for the Year Commencing January 1, 1858

Wanted A Partner With A cash capital of $4,000 to $5,000 to engage in the assaying and general gold dust business in one of the interior mining towns. The best testimonials will be furnished as to the capability and business capacity of the subscriber. A letter, with real name, addressed through the post office to S. Molitor, will be attended to.
Alta California, January 28, 1858

Assay Office S. MOLITOR & CO. Commercial Street (Opposite U.S. Branch Mint.) - The Under-signed Have Opened an office for the Assay of Gold, Silver And Minerals of every description, and hope by strict attention to business, promptness and dispatch, to secure a portion of the patronage of the public. Customers are invited to examine the melting process. They guarantee the correctness of their Assays, returns made in six hours.

S. Molitor & Co.
Alta California, April 16, 1858

1859

The Gr.[af] V.[as] [Count Wass, formerly of Wass, Molitor] gold smelting plant, of which I informed the Hungarian public extensively some years ago has fallen upon evil days. In the absence of Samu Vas and Molitor the partners who remained here (Haraszthy and Uznay) engaged in perilous speculations and soon the formerly rosy condition of the plant became so complicated that operations had to be suspended. It is too bad that V. and Molitor could not have returned at that time; they would have set everything right with their clear and calculating natures. But it is too late now. The business cannot be helped. Molitor, it is true, returned from London, but only after his whole fortune had gone up in smoke. At present the poor man is back where he started when he first came to California a few years ago, and is now beginning anew. A few days ago he opened a refinery across from the United States Mint with his younger brother, and their business is doing fairly well again.
California for Hungarian readers, Letters of Janos Xantus 1857 and 1859 (p. 137: Feb. 4, 1859)

1860

Molitor (Stephen) & Co. (August P. Molitor). Assayers 110 Montgomery. Dwells at 159 Jackson.
Molitor Augustus P. (S. Molitor & Co.) Dwells at 159 Jackson. Office- 110 Montgomery.
Langley’s San Francisco Directory for the Year Commencing July I860

A.P. Molitor. Age: 30, Occupation: Assayer, Birthplace: Austria
A.P. Molitor. Age: 40, Occupation: Assayer, Birthplace: Austria
S. Molitor. Age: 34 or 39, Occupation: Assayer, Personal Estate: $1500, Birthplace: Hungary
1860 Eighth Federal Census, San Francisco, California, San Francisco County

1861

Molitor. Augustus P. (Stephen Molitor & Co.). Dwells at 515 Jackson.
Molitor, (Stephen) & Co. (Augustus P. Molitor). Assayers 418 Montgomery. Dwells at 244 Stevenson.
Molitor, T. with (S. Molitor & Co.). Dwells at 244 Stevenson.
Langley’s San Francisco Directory for the Year Commencing September 1861

1862

Molitor, Augustus P. (S. Molitor & Co.). Dwells at 253 Stevenson.
Molitor, (Stephen) & Co. (Augustus P. Molitor). Assayers 418 Montgomery. Resides in Victoria.
Molitor, Titus. Assayer with (S. Molitor & Co.)
Langley’s San Francisco Directory for the Year Commencing September 1862

1863

Molitor, Augustus P. (S. Molitor & Co.). Dwells at 253 Stevenson.
Molitor, (Stephen) & Co. (Augustus P. Molitor). Assayers 418 Montgomery. Dwells at 253 Stevenson.
Langley’s San Francisco Directory for the Year Commencing October 1863

1864

Molitor, Augustus P. Assayer. Office 418 Montgomery. Dwells at 253 Stevenson.
Molitor, G. & S.M. Co. (Reese River District). Office 606 Montgomery.
Molitor, Julius. Assayer with A.P. Molitor. Dwells at 253 Stevenson.
Molitor, Stephen. Office 418 Mont. Dwells at 253 Stevenson.
Langley’s San Francisco Directory for the Year Commencing October 1864

S. Molitor & Co. advertised that they were open for business in Gold Hill. Nevada. Molitor’s partner was A. Schmolz, late of the U.S. Branch Mint, San Francisco.
Gold Hill Daily News, November 1864

1865

Molitor, Augustus P. Assayer. Office 611 Commercial opposite U.S. Branch Mint. Dwells at 804 Stockton.
Molitor, Julius. Assayer with A.P. Dwells at 804 Stockton.
Molitor, Titus. Assayer with A.P. Dwells at 804 Stockton.
Langley’s San Francisco Directory for the Year Commencing December 1865

1867

Gold Bars, Of Whatever Size, If Well cast, assayed for Two Dollars, at A.P. Molitor’s Assay Office, 611 Commercial Street, Opposite U.S. Mint.
Alta California, April 14, 1867

Augustus P. Molitor assayer office 611 Commercial Dwells at 1018 Stockton
Langley’s San Francisco Directory for the Year Commencing September 1867

1868

Augustus P. Molitor. Assayer. Dwells at 1018 Stockton.
Mrs. A.P. Molitor. Proprietress, Bellevue House, 1018 Stockton.
Langley’s San Francisco Directory for the Year Commencing October 1868

1869

Augustus P. Molitor. Assayer. Dwells at 1018 Stockton.
Mrs. A.P. Molitor. Proprietress, Bellevue House, 1018 Stockton.
Langley’s San Francisco Directory for the Year Commencing December 1869

1870

A.P. Molitor, Age: 47, Occupation: Assayer, Real Estate: $500, Personal Estate: $500, Birthplace: Hungary.
1870 Ninth Federal Census, San Diego California, San Diego County.

Stephen Molitor, Age: 37, Occupation: Assayer, Personal Estate: $3,000.
1870 Ninth Federal Census, Helena, Montana Ter- ritory, Lewis and Clark County.

1871-1879

San Diego, South. A.P. Molitor. Assayer. Montana Territory. Stephen F. Molitor. Helena. Assayer. 43 Main.
The Pacific Coast Business Directory for 1871-1873.