James and Margaret moved to Clay County, Indiana about 1835 where he bought farming land which became the site of the Wabash and Erie Canal 'Stone Locks' This system was designed to conect the waters of the Great Lakes with those of the Mississippi on west and Atlantic Ocean on east. It was suggested in 1817 and on Aug. 1842 boats first passed. At the Toledo side cut into Lake Erie, this opening the canal from Lafayette to the lake a distance of 230 miles. Member of ME church.