During this period he devoted himself enthusiastically to his art.  Soon after his return from Spain, he had observed a young man modeling a figure in clay, and by closely observing him had learned the process, which until then was unknown to him.  The labor of the youth pleased him very much, and the more because he saw in it a new means of artistic expression.  He at once procured some clay, and, taking it to his room, commenced to practice upon the lesson which he had just received.  From this time forward he continued his art labors, giving to them all the leisure time he could spare from his duties in the shop, where he was compelled to work from five A.M. until seven P.M.  He would go to his room after supper, and by the light of a tallow candle work late into the night, modeling figures in clay, and bringing new fancies into shape.  He says that frequently, although exhausted by his severe labor at the shop, he would be unable to sleep until he had molded into clay the idea which possessed his mind.  These night studies, superadded to his daily duties, proved very trying to him.  Yet he persevered, encouraged by his success with his figures.  He endeavored to persuade some of his relatives to aid him in securing a better education as an artist, such as would have enabled him to abandon the machine shop; but they turned a deaf ear to him, and he was thus compelled to continue his daily task, which, under these circumstances, naturally grew more and more irksome.

In 1856, he was enabled to better his condition for a short time.  He was offered the place of manager of a railroad machine-shop at Hannibal, Missouri, and promptly accepted it.  In six months, however, he was out of employment, the panic of 1857 having caused the machine-shop to suspend operations.  Having a little money in hand, which he had saved from his wages, he resolved to visit Europe, and study the works of the great masters in his art, and, if he could, to take lessons in sculpture from some competent teacher in the Old World.  He went to Paris and Rome, remaining in those cities for a period of eight months, and endeavoring to share the enthusiasm for the great works around him which the artist world manifested.  At the end of that time he came home convinced that classic art had no attractions for him, and was almost ready to declare that he had none of the true inspiration of an artist.

He did not stop long in the East upon his return.  Going West at once, he obtained a situation in the office of the Surveyor of the city of Chicago.  In this position he worked hard and faithfully, and his employers soon found that in him they had obtained a prize.