Born in Marion County, Ohio, June 30, 1845, and came with his parents to Wayne County, Iowa, in 1853. He worked on a farm until nineteen years of age when he began to study law. He was admitted to the bar in 1868 and began to practice in Corydon in 1872. In October, 1869, when but twenty-four years of age he was elected a member of the House in the Thirteenth General Assembly. In 1879 he was the Republican candidate for State Senator, and although running ahead of his ticket he was defeated. In 1880 he was one of the presidential electors, and in 1883 was elected to the State Senate, serving in the Twentieth and Twenty-first General Assemblies. He was appointed by President Harrison United States District Attorney for the Southern District of Iowa, serving four years. When the Republican party again came into power, he was appointed by McKinley to his old place.

Born in Marion County, Ohio, June 30, 1845, and came with his parents to Wayne County, Iowa, in 1853. He worked on a farm until nineteen years of age when he began to study law. He was admitted to the bar in 1868 and began to practice in Corydon in 1872. In October, 1869, when but twenty-four years of age he was elected a member of the House in the Thirteenth General Assembly. In 1879 he was the Republican candidate for State Senator, and although running ahead of his ticket he was defeated. In 1880 he was one of the presidential electors, and in 1883 was elected to the State Senate, serving in the Twentieth and Twenty-first General Assemblies. He was appointed by President Harrison United States District Attorney for the Southern District of Iowa, serving four years. When the Republican party again came into power, he was appointed by McKinley to his old place.

Born in Marion County, Ohio, June 30, 1845, and came with his parents to Wayne County, Iowa, in 1853. He worked on a farm until nineteen years of age when he began to study law. He was admitted to the bar in 1868 and began to practice in Corydon in 1872. In October, 1869, when but twenty-four years of age he was elected a member of the House in the Thirteenth General Assembly. In 1879 he was the Republican candidate for State Senator, and although running ahead of his ticket he was defeated. In 1880 he was one of the presidential electors, and in 1883 was elected to the State Senate, serving in the Twentieth and Twenty-first General Assemblies. He was appointed by President Harrison United States District Attorney for the Southern District of Iowa, serving four years. When the Republican party again came into power, he was appointed by McKinley to his old place.