Was born in the county which he now represents in the legislature, on December 5, 1866. He has lived in said county all his life except for a few years when he was attending school in Kansas. He was born and reared on a farm. Attended the common schools of his community and the high school of Ness City, Kan. He was graduated from the Kansas State Normal school, at Emporia, Kan., in 1891, and from the law department of the State University of Iowa in 1893. He has been engaged in the practice of the law in his county since his graduation. In July, 1892 he was married to Gertrude M. Christian of Iola, Kan. Two children were born to them. One died in infancy and the other, Mrs. Ralph C. Campbell, now lives at Mount Pleasant, Iowa. During the war with Germany he entered the Y.M.C.A. service and was sent overseas. He was assigned to the educational department of the association and lectured on commercial law subjects and citizenship. He is a member of the Methodist church and of the republican party.