 He commenced preaching with the Calvinistic Methodists in 1825; became a total abstainer in 1830, and met with much persecution for his advocacy of temperance principles, which were new in those days.In 1847 he joined the independents, and continued a popular minister among them through life.In 1869 he was induced to emigrate to America, whither a daughter and several brothers and sisters had gone before him, taking up his residence at Oak Hill, Ohio.