Representative from Carroll county, was born in Dubuque county in 1865. His father came from Germany to Iowa at the age of 11 years. His maternal grand-parents crossed the Mississippi in an ox drawn covered wagon, carrying all their possessions, in 1855. His early education was received in the schools of New Vienna, Iowa. In the winter of 1880-1881 his parents moved to Carroll county, where he has since resided. He was a student at Cornell College in 1886, taught country schools and then entered the State Teachers College at Cedar Falls in 1889, from whence he graduated as Master of Didactics in 1891. He was a member of the Philomathean Literary Society. He taught as principal of schools at Granville, and St. Charles, and as superintendent of Akron public schools till 1900. Since then he farmed near Arcadia, Carroll county, was justice of the peace for twelve years, and manager of the Golden Star Creamery for 18 years. He helped organize the Farmers Elevator Company at Arcadia, and since 1919 he has been active in organization work for the farm bureau and the Minnesota Cooperative Creameries Association. He married in 1893 and his wife, Pauline, two sons, Walter E. and John A., and three daughters, Lorreta, Elvira, and Dolores are all living. Serving first term in the legislature. A democrat.