CHAPTER I.
EARLY DAYS .-- LEAVING HOME .-- BOUND OUT .-- FARMING .-- CARPENTER .-- SOLDIER .-- CLOCK MAKING.
I was born in the town of Canaan, Litchfield County, in the State of Connecticut, on the 10th day of June, 1793.

My parents were poor but respectable and industrious.

My father was a blacksmith and wrought-nail maker by trade, and the father of six children--four sons and two daughters.

I was the fourth child.
In January, 1797, he moved from Canaan to the town of Plymouth, in the same County, and in the following spring built a blacksmith shop, which was large enough for three or four men to work at the nail making business, besides carrying on the blacksmithing.

At that time all the nails used in the country were hammered by hand out of iron rods, which practice has almost entirely been done away by the introduction of cut nails.
My advantages for education were very poor.