In deference to his father's wishes, after his marriage, he settled on a farm, but his dislike of farming and his fondness for mechanical pursuits caused him to quit farming after two years, and he moved to Buchanan, Michigan, to work at the machinist's trade. He remained there until the spring of 1873, when he moved to Niles, Michigan, where he took up the watchmaker's and jeweller's trade.

He did not confine himself, however, to his chosen occupation, and was for years a member of the American Microscopial Society, and beginning in 1884 a member of both the American and British Associations for the advancement of Science.

He was a hater of humbugs and superstitions, and was especially active in combatting spiritualism and clarvoyance. He was a declared agnostic in religion. This must have been a profound, deeply rooted conviction, for him to have publicly acknowledged it in the face of anti-agnostic and anti-atheist sentiment prevalent during the era in which he lived out his life.

He held many local offices, such as member of the school board and board of public works in Niles, but always declined political nominations.

He was studious and charitable, and being a man of some means, he was instrumental in assisting with the high school and college education of several boys and girls.