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AT THE FORKS OF THE GRAND About 1821, by which time he had become an efficient manager, Capron became eager to establish a foundry that would be partly his own. Accordingly, when he heard of the iron-ore in the bogs and swamps on the north shore of Lake Erie (near Normandale), he rode -on horseback into Canada to examine the deposits. He was so much pleased with them and with the prospects of success that he determined to buy them from Mrs. Elizabeth Mason, whose late hus- band, Samuel Mason, had two or three years before established a small foundry there. But before he could buy them, he had to get partners and financial backing. Thus, having returned to Manchester, he persuaded Theophilus Short to invest money in the enterprise; and he began (according to his son, Banfield) "to visit all the leading furnaces and foundries in the State of New York, making notes of the differ- ent modes of treating ore, drawing plans of their buildings, and getting an insight into all the improved methods of treating ore up to that date." And during these travels, he was continually on the look-out for enterprising and skilled workmen who might become his partners. In West Winfield, he discovered an excellent pattern- maker named George Tillson, who could invest money by selling his farm; in the town of Canandaigua, not far from Manchester, he discovered Joseph Van Norman, an excellent moulder. These two men, together with George White, agreed to enter into a partnership with Capron and Short. Capron, since he best understood the pro- cess of smelting ore and the general management of a foundry, was to be the superintendent of the concern. On August 2, 1821, Van Norman, acting for the partners, made an agreement with Elizabeth Mason for the transfer of the land: . . . together with all buildings, houses, outhouses, woodways, and waters thereon - Furnace, Pond, Dam - Water Works - all parcels of wood, cut and corded on adjoining lots . . . and paying as follows - that is to say, twenty-five-pounds currency to be paid at the time of delivery of the possession and further payments and instalments of one hundred and fifty pounds, iron castings and hollow ware, out of the first successful blast made by the said Van Norman and his co-partners, at the fair, usual wholesale prices, as such ware sells for cash at Manchester Furnace in Ontario County, State of New York. In 1822, Capron, Tillson, and Van Norman moved to Canada and built a furnace. A letter, written by Capron to his parents on April 3, i823, reveals the progress the partners had made by that date, and Capron's unusual optimism and industry: It is with pleasure that I address you after having gone through so many series of difficulties and having at last arrived at the station which I have long wanted, and which I am well pleased with. I have long labored at various kinds of employments, and I have weighed almost all kinds of business in my mind, and thought of pursuing many; but at last I undertook this hazardous enter- prize of building a furnace in Charlotteville, District of London, Upper Canada. 28 I=