Born in Lovell, Maine, June 27, 1844, resided with his parents in Lovell, Stoneham and Portland, attending the district school in summer until 12 years old. He then worked on his father’s farm in summer and attended district school in winter till 18 years old. On July 18, 1862, he enlisted as a private in company D, 16th regiment Maine infantry volunteers for three years, and was mustered into the United States service at Augusta, August 14, 1862, and served in the Army of the Potomac. He was in the service almost constantly until June, 1864, when, on account of ill health, he was sent for treatment to the hospital at Washington, D.C, and afterwards served on detached duty as a clerk in Washington until discharged, July 13, 1865. In October, 1865, he went to Audubon County, Iowa, where his parents had that year removed, which has since been his principal place of residence. In the winters of 1865-6 he taught school, was elected county recorder of Audubon County and as county judge in 1868. He was admitted to the Bar of Audubon County in 1869, to the supreme court of Iowa in 1884, and to the United States district and circuit courts in 1888. He was elected Senator of the seventeenth district of Iowa, composed of Audubon, Dallas and Guthrie counties, in 1891. He has always been a Republican. He was a member of Veritas lodge No. 392, Ancient Free and Accepted Masons, Audubon, Exira lodge No. 181, Knights of Pythias, Exira, and Allison post No. 84, Grand Army of the Republic, Audubon. He was married in Atlantic, Iowa, February 35, 1871, to Jennie Maria, daughter of William Canfield and Ruth Harried (Thayer) Norton of Oakfield, Iowa, native of New York State. They have six children.

Born in Lovell, Maine, June 27, 1844, resided with his parents in Lovell, Stoneham and Portland, attending the district school in summer until 12 years old. He then worked on his father’s farm in summer and attended district school in winter till 18 years old. On July 18, 1862, he enlisted as a private in company D, 16th regiment Maine infantry volunteers for three years, and was mustered into the United States service at Augusta, August 14, 1862, and served in the Army of the Potomac. He was in the service almost constantly until June, 1864, when, on account of ill health, he was sent for treatment to the hospital at Washington, D.C, and afterwards served on detached duty as a clerk in Washington until discharged, July 13, 1865. In October, 1865, he went to Audubon County, Iowa, where his parents had that year removed, which has since been his principal place of residence. In the winters of 1865-6 he taught school, was elected county recorder of Audubon County and as county judge in 1868. He was admitted to the Bar of Audubon County in 1869, to the supreme court of Iowa in 1884, and to the United States district and circuit courts in 1888. He was elected Senator of the seventeenth district of Iowa, composed of Audubon, Dallas and Guthrie counties, in 1891. He has always been a Republican. He was a member of Veritas lodge No. 392, Ancient Free and Accepted Masons, Audubon, Exira lodge No. 181, Knights of Pythias, Exira, and Allison post No. 84, Grand Army of the Republic, Audubon. He was married in Atlantic, Iowa, February 35, 1871, to Jennie Maria, daughter of William Canfield and Ruth Harried (Thayer) Norton of Oakfield, Iowa, native of New York State. They have six children.