he moved to ohio in 1836; first to cleveland, then to williamsburg near cincinnati, where he purchased a farm. soon after, he was apparently exposed to academic style portrait painting and his faces became more detailed. an advertisement in the "daily ohio statesman" from 1839 indicates that he had a studio in columbus, but a few years later he was evidently working in the south; notably in mississippi. he was strongly opposed to slavery, so this may have been connected to his work with the underground railroad. he was also involved in the temperance movement and the anti-masonic party, although he had once been a mason himself. in addition to his self-promotion, he made many professional contacts through his active participation in the presbyterian church.