He continued his law studies with Samuel Stevens, of Albany, N. Y., and was admitted to practice in the courts of such state at a term of its Supreme court held at Salem, Washington county, in May, 1848, Judges Cady, Hand and Millard presiding, and during the same year began the practice of law at Sharon Springs, where he continued the same until the 1st of November, 1850, when, at the earnest solicitation of his father, who had for the first time visited the West during that year, and, like Horace Greeley, had confidence in the future of that section, he started for Janesville, Wis., where he arrived on the 9th day of November, 1850.