Born at Homer, Courtland County, New York, February 8, 1824. In 1824 he came with his parents to Oxford, Ohio, and in 1837 to Medina, Ohio. Here at seventeen years of age he began teaching school, which he followed five years. He then entered newspaper work at Sandusky, Ohio, and then took employment in the post office in that city, remaining in it during the Fillmore administration. He then followed fire insurance work one year in Sandusky and two years in Milwaukee. From 1856 to 1876 he farmed near Medina, Ohio. In 1878 he came to Villisca where he made his home until his death. Here he was first in the clothing and then in the implement business. In 1891 he was elected representative from Montgomery County and served in the Twenty-fourth General Assembly.