Grande Dude

Excellent work. I’m a 4th great grandson of Martina Castro and this book explains a lot of why my family aren’t land rich in Soquel and Capitola! It informs readers of what Martina must have gone through after her first husband drowned, second husband was murdered and third husband sold her out and beat her. Also explains how difficult life became for an illiterate Mexican woman who didn’t speak English, after her previous Mexican land became California and the sharks smelled blood in the water in the form of her land holdings. The book really explores the convoluted and sometimes probably illegal land deals that shaped a large part of Santa Cruz County. Quite a coincidence that Frederick Hihn gets a job at the Santa Cruz County Recorders office, with access to ALL the county land deeds, and SURPRISE, becomes one of the largest land owners in the county through multiple lawsuits against deed holders. Santa Cruz County had its very own version of Mr Potter from “It’s a Wonderful Life”! The book even sheds some not so positive light on my own distant relatives. Great book. Don’t get bogged down in the deed and lawsuit details. Lots to digest here.