Born near Geneseo, Henry County, Illinois, on the 16th of October, 1843. He was reared on a farm and received but an ordinary education. He removed to Cedar Rapids, Iowa, in 1868 and engaged in the sale of farm machinery. He has served on the board of supervisors, mayor of Cedar Rapids, president of Cedar Rapids Savings Bank and director of the Electric Light Company. In 1885 he was elected on the Democratic ticket one of the Representatives in the Legislature, and was twice reelected, serving six years in the House. In 1890 he was elected Speaker of the House of the Twenty-third General Assembly. In October of the same year he was elected to Congress for the Fifth District on the Democratic ticket over George R. Struble, Republican, serving but one term. He was a candidate for reelection in 1892 but was defeated by R. G. Cousins, Republican.

Born near Geneseo, Henry County, Illinois, on the 16th of October, 1843. He was reared on a farm and received but an ordinary education. He removed to Cedar Rapids, Iowa, in 1868 and engaged in the sale of farm machinery. He has served on the board of supervisors, mayor of Cedar Rapids, president of Cedar Rapids Savings Bank and director of the Electric Light Company. In 1885 he was elected on the Democratic ticket one of the Representatives in the Legislature, and was twice reelected, serving six years in the House. In 1890 he was elected Speaker of the House of the Twenty-third General Assembly. In October of the same year he was elected to Congress for the Fifth District on the Democratic ticket over George R. Struble, Republican, serving but one term. He was a candidate for reelection in 1892 but was defeated by R. G. Cousins, Republican.

Born near Geneseo, Henry County, Illinois, on the 16th of October, 1843. He was reared on a farm and received but an ordinary education. He removed to Cedar Rapids, Iowa, in 1868 and engaged in the sale of farm machinery. He has served on the board of supervisors, mayor of Cedar Rapids, president of Cedar Rapids Savings Bank and director of the Electric Light Company. In 1885 he was elected on the Democratic ticket one of the Representatives in the Legislature, and was twice reelected, serving six years in the House. In 1890 he was elected Speaker of the House of the Twenty-third General Assembly. In October of the same year he was elected to Congress for the Fifth District on the Democratic ticket over George R. Struble, Republican, serving but one term. He was a candidate for reelection in 1892 but was defeated by R. G. Cousins, Republican.