He and his brother Thomas went to America in the early 1870s, after the great fire of Chicago, when ther was much work for both of them. Their mother Ann and sister Martha joined them later. When they were established, Ned was sent home to fetch his brother's fiancee, Edith Uttley. After Thomas's death, Ned supported Edith and her two childrenand was very keen to marry her.This was long refused, but finally agreed late in their lives.