ˈæftɚ kəmplˈiːɾɪŋ hɪz skˈuːlɪŋ, hiː wˈɜːkt wɪð ɐ bˈɪldɪŋ kəntɹˈæktɚɹ ɪn pˈɜːθ bᵻfˌoːɹ sˈɛɾəlɪŋ ɪn bɹˈɑːkvɪl ɪn wˈʌn θˈaʊzənd ˈeɪthˈʌndɹɪd fˈoːɹɾi wˈʌn.
After completing his schooling, he worked with a building contractor in Perth before settling in Brockville in 1841.