Born on August 30, 1854 in Herman Center, Dodge County, Wisconsin, and died November 26, 1918 in Plymouth County, Iowa. He was a staunch Democrat and an intelligent and honest farmer. He was first married to Mary Louise Tice in 1855. She died in 1890, and then married Olived Grimjes in 1872. He was a pioneer of Plymouth County, one of its best known farmers and a highly respected and enterprising citizen. He took an active part in the civil and political life of his community. He was widely known and had many friends, personal and political, throughout his county. He was ambitious and possessed a high degree of integrity, a man of splendid ability, enterprise, and public spirit. He was honored by various local offices in his county and served as representative from Plymouth County in the Twenty-fourth General Assembly, with honor and credit.