Despite objections from his father, he desired a better education than the rudimentary courses he received in the local school, so he studied surveying and then began a career as a schoolmaster.
Trods sin fars modstand ønskede han sig en bedre uddannelse end den tilfældige lærdom, han fik i den lokale skole, så han studerede landmåling og begyndte derefter på en karriere som lærer.