Born near Rockford, Illinois, March 13, 1846, and died at Chariton, Iowa, June 23, 1919. He attended common school and was one year at an academy at Rockford. He taught school one year in Franklin County, Iowa. He was a bookkeeper for Farwell & Company of Chicago for a time and was also in the grain business there. With a brother he was in the grain business three years at Aledo, Illinois. In 1871 he came to Chariton and worked as a store clerk. He served as sheriff of Lucas County for six years, 1896 to 1901 inclusive. In 1903 he was elected representative and served in the Thirtieth General Assembly. He served as a member of the school board at Chariton, as a member of the city council, was active in securing the right-of-way for railroads being constructed in the county.