Senator from the Fifth District, composed of Decatur, Ringgold and Union counties, was born near Norwalk, Huron county, Ohio, August 1, 1840, of Scotch-Irish and English parentage. Was educated in the rural schools of Huron county, Ohio, until fourteen years of age, when he moved with his parents to Decatur county, Iowa, and finished his school work in the graded schools of Garden Grove. He has been for years actively engaged in farming, stock raising and shipping and was for years connected with the commission firm of Brown Brothers & Ballinger, Union Stock Yards, Chicago, Illinois. He served as a member of the board of supervisors of Decatur county and held various township offices; also served as a member of the State Board of Agriculture and was one of the committee that purchased the state fair grounds. At present he is managing a farm of six hundred acres. He enlisted in Company L, 3d Regiment Iowa Volunteer Cavalry as a private in August, 1861, and served during the war. He was made Sergeant, then Lieutenant in February, 1862, and was promoted to Captain in March, 1864. Was taken prisoner at the battle of Hartfield, Missouri, January 11, 1862. He was wounded at the battle of Big Blue. October 23, 1864, and after two days was picked up from the field where he had been left to die. After the capture of Jeff Davis by Wilson's Cavalry Corps he was detailed with one hundred men of the 3d Iowa Cavalry to guard the prisoners from the trains at Augusta, Georgia, to a boat on the Savannah river. Was mustered out of service at Atlanta, Georgia, and discharged at Davenport, Iowa, in February, 1865. He served two years as Government Inspector at Pine Ridge Reservation, South Dakota, in the years 1891 and 1892. Was elected Senator in 1908. A Republican in politics.

Senator from the Fifth District, composed of Decatur, Ringgold and Union counties, was born of Scotch-Irish and English parentage near Norwalk, Huron county, Ohio, on the first of August, 1840. Was educated in the rural schools of Huron county, Ohio, until fourteen years of age, at which time he moved with his parents to Decatur county, Iowa, and finished his school work in Decatur county. Has been for years actively engaged in farming, stock raising and shipping and has been for years a member of the commission firm of Brown Bros, and Ballinger, of Union Stock Yards, Chicago, Illinois. Served as a member of the board of supervisors of Decatur county and held various township offices. Also served as a member of the State Agricultural Board and was one of the committee which purchased the state fair grounds. At present is managing a farm of 500 acres and feeding, buying and selling stock. Enlisted in Company L, 3d Regiment, Iowa Cavalry Volunteers as a private, August 9, 1861, and served during the war. Was made Sergeant, then Second Lieutenant in February, 1862, and was promoted to the Captaincy in March, 1864. Was taken prisoner at the battle of Heartsville, Missouri, January 11, 1863. Was wounded at the battle of Big Blue and left on the field to die, lying on the field two days before picked up. After the capture of Jeff Davis by Wilson's Cavalry corps was detailed with one hundred men of third Iowa Cavalry to guard prisoner and party from train at Augusta, Georgia, to boat on Savannah river. Was mustered out of service at Atlanta, Georgia, and discharged at Davenport, Iowa, September, 1865. Elected Senator in 1908. A Republican in politics.