Autobiography

2

...Rodman for my brother Darius Lapham who had already attained to the position of Assistant Engineer.
I was present at Lockport when LaFayette passed through that place on his 'tour of welcome' and when the completion (October, 1825) of the canal was celebrated by a telegraphic dispatch sent from Buffalo to New York City; the line consisting of a series of cannon placed at convenient intervals.
In June and July 1826 I was employed for a short time on the Welland Canal in Canada.
While at Lockport I made and sold a number of plans of the locks which were wanted by strangers travelling in search of information.

Question 5: The beautiful mineral specimens I found in the deep rock cut at Lockport gave me my first ideas of mineralogy and initiated a habit of observation that has continued through all my life. I found amusement and pastime in the study of nature leading to long walks in the country; and as I found no others of similar tastes these rambles were usually without companions.