Born in Richland County, Ohio, February 28, 1838. When quite a young boy he moved with his parents to Iowa, was educated in the Troy Academy and in 1863 graduated from the Keokuk Medical College. In 1864 he was united in marriage with Mrs. Jennie Robbins. He served as a surgeon in the U. S. army in the 64th infantry during the war of the Rebellion and received an honorable discharge at the close of the war. For a number of years he was a practicing physician but poor health caused him to give up and for a number of years has lived a retired life. He represented Davis County in the Twenty-fourth General Assembly, 1892.