Returning to the East Mr. Horton passed the time until 1840, in various places and employments, the last being at St. Mary's with the American Fur Co. His first western _home_ was purchased in the town of Oakland, Wis., that year, to which locality his father and family followed not long after. In a few months more he had established himself matrimonially and happily. Three years engaged in miscellaneous trade, land figuring as the principal item, he became a cattle-dealer. He bought his beef in Illinois, did the largest part of the driving, and averaged two trips in five weeks. He furnished his customers so satisfactorily in his own and adjoining counties, that in one year his original capital of $150 was increased to $4,000. In St. Louis he saw profits in land-warrants, and bought sufficient to locate 1,500 acres of land. Out of this investment grew the village of _Hortonville_, in Outagamie Co., Wis. His first town was buried in the woods, and he went to work with eight men to cut a four-mile road to his proposed mill-site. By the time he had lots to sell, he was sawing lumber with which to improve them. The prices and payment for material was of small account with the proprietor. Houses must be built, whether settlers had money or not. In a year from the completion of the mill, 150 people were _living_ in Hortonville, and at the end of two years sold out the remaining property, being $7,188 better for his enterprise.