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AT THE FORKS OF THE GRAND His account-books contain no reference to his ever having fore- closed a mortgage. In addition to being liked for his generosity, Capron was liked because, with increasing wealth, he did not try to adopt the grand manners of a squire. He never aimed at becoming a gentleman- farmer - that is, one that avoids any sort of manual labor as the mark of an inferior man. He treated his employees as friends. It was said of Elias Conklin that when he first came to Paris to work for Capron: . . .having lived for a time in the service of a wealthy English gentleman who lived in the Old World Style . . . he expected that a man of such large property would dress magnificently and he was speculating whether one of his duties would be to drive his mas- ter's carriage to church, when to his surprise, he found himself grasped by the hand of a brisk-looking Yankee farmer and heartily welcomed by the "new Boss." Conklin was also surprised to find that Capron was pleased to have his employees eat with him at the same table. During his first twenty-five years in Paris, Capron made a large fortune. About 185o, he wrote: I must confess that with the blessing of Divine Providence I accu- ¶ mulated more property than any other man in this section of Canada. In i856, he estimated his wealth to be at least $250,000 - equal to more than $i,ooo,ooo in today's money. In i857, however, he had a set-back: When hard times came in 1857, the scale of fortune turned against me. Everybody failed, and I had their debts to pay - between 1857 and 1860 I paid out in cold cash about $25,000. Again in i 864 he wrote: I have lost $30,000 cash. I am literally poor. Property has depre- ciated generally 50%, and in Paris 75% - rather, it will not sell at all. Since Paris was incorporated about 15 years ago, I have ! paid out $10,000 in taxes. In i869, he complained that farming: ... is a hard or uphill business these times. The American duties of about 20%ho on all we raise takes off all the profit. The U.S.A. market prices regulate everything. Our stock, grain, etc., sell only for what it's worth to take to Buffalo. Without Reciprocity in trade, Canada is not fit to live in, and there is no prospect of reei- procity, as everything (in the U.S.A.) is against it . . . I don't blame them, for England and Canada behaved rascally during the [Civil] War. However, in the same letter, lie added: "I am poor no more or in debt. I yet hold over 8oo acres of land in Paris." 34 L