 He next contracted to do a painting job for the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Railroad Company in Chicago and when he finished the work four months later he became a roof-slater at Clinton, Iowa, still working for the railroad company.In 1892 he decided to visit Milwaukee, where he had a sister living, and find out what kind of a city it was.Within a few days he had secured employment — a painting job — with the Milwaukee Buggy Company, but when a week had passed he was called home to Aurora through the serious illness of his mother.