Representative from Des Moines county, was born in 1884 in the city of Burlington, where he now resides. His parents moved to Bloomington, Illinois, at which place he attended the public schools. At the age of 14 he, with his parents, went to Basel, Switzerland, where he attended public and high school. About six years later they moved to a farm in Bedford county, Virginia, one year later to the city of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, where he learned the machinist trade. He studied law at the La Salle Extension University of Chicago, Illinois. Was city marshal of the city of Burlington for two years, manager of the Des Moines County Abstract & Title Guaranty Company for two years. He is a member of Elks, Eagles and Turner Society. He is unmarried. Elected representative in 1918. A democrat in politics.