 While living on his first tract he laid out the town of Harlansburg in 1800, built the first house in the place, and put up a gristmill just east of the village, on the small run which empties into Slippery Rock Creek, some distance below, the mill being built probably previous to the laying out of the town.The house he built was constructed of round logs, and stood on the hill just above where the "Benard House" now stands.The house was standing until about 1840.