Born in Kalamazoo, Michigan, February 22, 1845, and removed to McHenry County, Illinois, in infancy and lived there until 1860. He taught school in Southern Illinois one year and entered Normal University at Normal and after being there one year, came to Iowa and Marshall County. While in Albion he was employed to take charge of the mathematical department of Iowa Lutheran College. He was there one year and enlisted with a number of students in the 6th Iowa V.C. Co. A. He served two years. After the war he was chosen Principal of the schools in Marshalltown. He was nominated and elected Clerk of the Courts of this county and held that office for two years reading law in the mean time and was admitted to the bar January 1, 1873. He then formed a partnership with Messrs. Henderson and Merriman and continued for seven months, then withdrew with the consent of the senior member of the firm and opened an independent office. He was elected Solicitor of the City and President of the School Board. He represented Marshall County in the Twentieth and Twenty-first General Assemblies, 1884-86.

Born in Kalamazoo, Michigan, February 22, 1845, and removed to McHenry County, Illinois, in infancy and lived there until 1860. He taught school in Southern Illinois one year and entered Normal University at Normal and after being there one year, came to Iowa and Marshall County. While in Albion he was employed to take charge of the mathematical department of Iowa Lutheran College. He was there one year and enlisted with a number of students in the 6th Iowa V.C. Co. A. He served two years. After the war he was chosen Principal of the schools in Marshalltown. He was nominated and elected Clerk of the Courts of this county and held that office for two years reading law in the mean time and was admitted to the bar January 1, 1873. He then formed a partnership with Messrs. Henderson and Merriman and continued for seven months, then withdrew with the consent of the senior member of the firm and opened an independent office. He was elected Solicitor of the City and President of the School Board. He represented Marshall County in the Twentieth and Twenty-first General Assemblies, 1884-86.