AFter starting out as a pharmacist in Germany, HIhn came to California with friends to try his luck with the gold rush. He lost all of his tools in a flood so then opened a business making candy. He lost that business to floods and eventually wound up in Santa Cruz with a retail store. He was also able to buy property as a bargain and slowly accrued great wealth in land transactions and successful business practices. His beautiful home once stood where City Hall stands today and was the talk of the town for its beautiful gardens and indoor skating rink.