 Corning moved to Troy, New York at the age of 13 to clerk in the hardware store of an uncle; six years later he moved to Albany, New York, where he joined the mercantile business under James Spencer.After some time at Spencer's firm, Corning became a partner, and eventually the senior partner upon Spencer's death in 1824.Corning combined the Spencer firm with holdings he inherited from his uncle to form Erastus Corning & Co. John V. L. Pruyn was married to Harriet Corning Turner (June 18, 1822 – March 22, 1859), who was Erastus Corning's niece.