When he was four years old, his father moved to the town of Chatham, near the old city of Rochester.
He had a great affection for Chatham and Rochester, and after he began to write stories that were printed, he often used to put these places into them.
He bought a house on Gad's Hill--a place near Chatham, where he had spent the happiest part of his childhood--and settled down to a life of comfort and labor.
Late in the day, a friend who called upon the owner of the house, learning that the printer wanted work, said he had heard of a vacancy at Mr. West's, 85 Chatham Street.