Autobiography

3

In August 1826 I left the Welland Canal to go to Ohio where my father had secured a place for me as Rodman on the Miami Canal. Went in a packet boat from Lockport to Buffalo and thence on the steamer Enterprise to Sandusky, landing at Cleveland and other places. My father a few years before made a similar voyage in the steamboat 'Walk in the Water' which had so little strength of engine that oxen were employed to pull the boat up the then existing rapids from Black Rock to Buffalo. From Sandusky the only conveyance was by stage via Columbus to Middleton where I commenced work under Byron Kilbourn, Assistant Engineer.
Continued on the Miami Canal only until December of the same year. When I went to Louisville Ky to secure a better position on the canal then being constructed around the 'Falls' at that place. My engagement here continued from February 1827 to October 14 1829; having previously attended the school of Mr. Mann Butler on Jefferson street. Mr. Butler afterwords wrote a history of Kentucky.