Born near Findlay, Ohio, August 15, 1855; He came with his parents to Louisa county, when he was five years of age. After attaining his majority he was for some years an active minister in the United Brethren Church. He held the office of postal clerk and postmaster of the town of Sumner, Bremer county under the Cleveland administration. He was elected from Bremer county to the Iowa house of representatives of the 23d and 24th General Assemblies. He was one of the influential men of those legislatures, in the last of which he was an important factor in the work of founding the State Historical Department.

Born near Findlay, Ohio, August 15, 1855; He came with his parents to Louisa county, when he was five years of age. After attaining his majority he was for some years an active minister in the United Brethren Church. He held the office of postal clerk and postmaster of the town of Sumner, Bremer county under the Cleveland administration. He was elected from Bremer county to the Iowa house of representatives of the 23d and 24th General Assemblies. He was one of the influential men of those legislatures, in the last of which he was an important factor in the work of founding the State Historical Department.