12 AUTOBIOGRAPHY, 



This was taught by the greatest of our American 

 poets in his well-known lines : 



" Lives of great men all remind us 



We may make our lives sublime ; 

 And, departing, leave behind us 

 Foot-prints on the sands of time." 



Although few men may lay claim to greatness 

 in its military, political or literary sense, there is 

 something in every earnest life which will inter- 

 est and instruct other men, and which may prove 

 an assistance to some, who, with failing hearts 

 are engaged in life's stern battle. With this 

 brief explanation of his design, the author of 

 the following pages trusts to receive the favor- 

 able attention of his readers as he proceeds to 

 recount the leading incidents of a somewhat 

 eventful career. 



I was born in the town of Darien, Genesee 

 County, in the State of New York, on the 

 seventh day of December, A. D. 1835. There, 

 amidst the quiet and elevating influences of 

 nature, the bright days of my infancy and child- 



