He immigrated from Germany to America in 1883, and became a naturalized citizen in 1889. In 1900 he was living in San Jose as a carpenter with his wife of 15 years, 2 sons and 3 daughters (of 6 children) plus his widowed mother-in-law. His family was living on N. 8th St in San Jose in 1910, and consisted of he, his wife, and the 4 youngest children. He was a widower in the 1920 census, at which time he was living in San Jose and working as a carpenter in the contracting business. He was still living with his daughter’s family in 1930.