He taught school for a time in the South, and in 1844 began the study of theology in the Union Seminary, New York City.
From Los Angeles he removed in 1851 to San Francisco to act as editor and proprietor of The Pacific, a weekly religious newspaper which was begun at that time.
After four years of very severe labor in this position he parted, in the autumn of 1855, with his interest in the paper, resigned the editorship, and returned to his mother's home in Trenton.
He did not resume ministerial labors, but spent his time in literary work and in the care of his health, which was never robust.
He died, after a few hours' illness, of congestive chills, at North Lake, Herkimer County, N. Y., September 24, 1883, in his 66th year.