 He was an accomplished surveyor and his many settlement parties founded cities all over Minnesota and North Dakota.Those settlements would become cities such as Osseo, Minnesota and Maple Grove, Minnesota northwest of the Twin Cities, as well as Breckenridge, Minnesota and Wahpeton, North Dakota on either side of the Red River of the North.He also took part in the founding of Orono Village, Sherburne County, Minnesota (later absorbed by), Elk River, Minnesota and the booming city of St. Anthony (later absorbed by Minneapolis, Minnesota).