Representative from Hancock county, was born February 11, 1849, on a farm near the village of Westchester, Tuscarawas county, Ohio, of German descent on his father's side and English on his mother's side. Spent his early years on the farm and attended the country schools until the age of fifteen when he enlisted in the War of the Rebellion and served as a private in Company C, One Hundred and Eighty-ninth Regiment Ohio Volunteer Infantry until the close of the war. Soon after leaving the army he entered Harlem Springs College at Harlem Springs, Ohio, from which institution, at the age of twenty, he was graduated in 1869, receiving the degree of Bachelor of Philosophy. Following his graduation he engaged in school work in Ohio, Wisconsin and Iowa until 1877, during which time he spent his vacations and spare time in the study of law and in June of 1877 was admitted to the practice of law in Iowa, and soon after was admitted to practice in the Federal Courts. Located at Garner in Hancock county in 1877 and for thirty years was engaged in the active practice of law; giving up the practice only when forced to by failure of his health. Was county superintendent of schools for one term and was a member of the board of supervisors two terms. In 1892 was one of the organizers of the First National Bank of Garner and has since that time been a director and vice-president in that institution. Is also president of the Hancock Abstract Company. In 1898, he, with thirteen other Garner business men, organized the Cedar Rapids, Garner and Northwestern Railroad Company, of which he was president. The company built a railroad from Garner to Titonka in Kossuth county and operated the same until it was sold; it is now a part of the Rock Island system. His time since quitting the law practice has been chiefly devoted to farming and stock raising. Elected Representative in 1908 and re-elected in 1910. A Republican in politics.

Representative from Hancock county, was born February 11, 1849, on a farm near the village of Westchester, Tuscarawas county, Ohio, of German descent on his father's side and English on his mother's side. Spent his early years on the farm and attended the country schools until the age of fifteen when he enlisted in the war of the rebellion and served as a private in Company C, One Hundred and Eighty-ninth Regiment Ohio Volunteer Infantry until the close of the war. Soon after leaving the army he entered Harlem Springs College at Harlem Springs, Ohio, from which institution, at the age of twenty, he was graduated in 1869, receiving the degree of Bachelor of Philosophy. Following his graduation he engaged in school work in Ohio, Wisconsin and Iowa until 1877, during which time he spent his vacations and spare time in the study of law and in June of 1877 was admitted to the practice of law in Iowa, and soon after was admitted to practice in the Federal Courts. Located at Garner in Hancock county in 1877 and for thirty years was engaged in the active practice of law; giving up the practice only when forced to by failure of his health. Was county superintendent of schools for one term and was a member of the board of supervisors two terms. In 1892 was one of the organizers of the First National Bank of Garner and has since that time been a director and vice-president in that institution. Is also president of the Hancock Abstract Company. In 1898 he, with thirteen other Garner business men organized the Cedar Rapids, Garner and Northwestern Railroad Company, of which he was president. The company built a railroad from Garner to Titonka in Kossuth county and operated the same until it was sold; it is now a part of the Rock Island system. His time since quitting the law practice has been chiefly devoted to farming and stock raising. Elected Representative in 1908. A Republican in politics.