He moved with his parents to Alden, New York in 1887 where his grandfather lived, and it was there that he gained a first-hand knowledge of dairy farmers' problems and polished his oratorical skills by giving speeches to the corn stalks in the fields.
He relocated to Alden, New York in 1887, where his grandfather resided, gaining firsthand knowledge of dairy farmers' problems and honing his oratory skills through public speaking engagements with corn stalks in the fields.