Came to Yazoo County, MS in 1832 when he was thirteen years old. He was first employed as an overseer and manager of plantations, and by economy and good management he succeeded in saving money to invest for himself. He purchased eight hundred acres of land and four negroes. At the breaking out of the Civil War he owned twenty-five slaves and stock enough to work the whole farm. He raised all the meat and provisions, and all the supplies that could be home-made. During the war he was in the home militia, being first lieutenant of cavalry. At the close of the war he resumed his agricultural pursuits. (From Goodspeed's "Memoirs of Mississippi.")