The first summer after I returned to Rochester, the friends of temperance made a fine celebration, and gave me the privilege of providing the dinner.

I considered it not only a privilege, but an honor, and felt very grateful to the committee who conferred the favor upon me.

The celebration came off on the Fourth of July, and was indeed a splendid affair.  The multitude were addressed on the public square, by some of the best speakers in the country.  I laid in a large quantity of provisions of every available kind, built a bower, hired waiters, and prepared seats for five hundred to dine; but when the oration was over, and the multitude came to the table, I found that as many more seats were wanted.  We, however, accommodated as many as we could, at one dollar each, and all passed off well, to the great satisfaction of all concerned.

When all was over, and the friends learned that I had on hand a large amount of cooked provision, they continued their kindness by purchasing it, thus preventing any loss on my part.

My store on the corner of Main and North Streets, was at the head of the market, and I was enabled to supply both of my stores with country produce on the best possible terms.  I kept two clerks at each store, and all seemed prosperous for a time, when from some cause, which I could never understand, my business began to fail.  My family had ever lived prudently, and I knew that was not the cause.  I thought to better my circumstances by taking a store in the Rochester House, but that proved to be a bad stand for my business, and after one year, I removed to Buffalo Street, opposite the Court House.  I ought to say, that as soon as I found that my income was getting less than my expenses, I went to the gentlemen who had loaned me the five hundred dollars, and showed them the true state of my affairs, and they kindly agreed to take fifty per cent., which I paid them.

After locating on Buffalo Street, I took in a partner, named John Lee, a young man, active and industrious, who paid into the firm three hundred dollars, with which we bought goods.  With what I had on hand, this raised the joint stock to about a thousand dollars, on which we were making frequent additions, and on which we had an insurance of six hundred dollars.  Our business was now more prosperous than at any previous time, and we began to look up with hope and confidence in our final success.  One night I returned to my home as usual, leaving Lee in the store.  About twelve o’clock, Mr. Morris awoke me with a few loud raps, and the announcement that my store was on fire and a part of my goods in the street!  I hastened to the place, where I found, as he had said, what was saved from the fire piled up in the street and the fire extinguished.  The building was greatly damaged and the goods they rescued were nearly ruined.  Now we were thrown out of business, and the firm was dissolved.  With the assistance of W.S.  Bishop, a lawyer, we made out the amount of damage, which was readily paid by the agent for the insurance company.