Born at Evansburg, Crawford County, Pennsylvania, October 7, 1836. He received a liberal education and came with his father to Iowa in 1853, taking up his residence at Decorah. In 1854 he was appointed deputy treasurer of the county and later was elected recorder and treasurer, serving until 1862 when he resigned to raise a company for the Union Army. He was appointed Captain of Company D, Sixth Iowa Cavalry, where he served three years in the Department of the Northwest against the Indians. At the close of the war he returned to Decorah and became cashier of the First National Bank. In 1876 he was elected to Congress from the Third District on the Republican ticket, serving but one term.