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Chapter 1
1811-1827

March 7, 1811-Thursday-I was born in a framed house in the town of Palmyra (now Macedon), Wayne Co. N.Y. five miles from the village of Palmyra; two miles west of the Macedon locks, on the Erie canal. In 1847 Freer's Bridge was on the old farm.

My father's name was Seneca Lapham and my mother's maiden name was Rachel Allen. My own name written in full is Increase Allen Lapham, named for my mother's father.

At the time of my first recollection we were living in the town of Galen, Wayne Co. N.Y.

1818. This year the family moved to Pennsylvania, near Pottsville or Mt. Carbon on the Schuylkill river, where we lived one year, and then moved to Orwigsburgh, four miles below; father, who as a contractor and engineer, was employed on the Schuykill canal.

1820. From there the family returned to Galen and father was employed at Lyons on the Erie canal, which was then constructing.

1822. The family moved to Rochester N.Y. where one of the arches of the first aqueduct was built by father. I remained at Galon and worked for a few months with one Elias Langdon, a farmer.

1824. The family removed to Lockport, N.Y.; father built the gates and woodwork for the locks which gave name to this place. They were deemed one of the wonders of art and a great triumph of engineering skill. Many strangers visited the place to inspect the work during its progress and I found frequent sale for my drawings of the plan of