A native of Scotland; born in Glasgow March 3, 1830; when about seven years old, he came to America and began his active, self-reliant career as an errand boy, in the Province of Ontario; before he was 11 years old he walked from Coburg, seventy-three miles below Toronto, to Chicago, by a roundabout way, a distance of seven or eight hundred miles; he served in various capacities in different hotels in Chicago, and was finally appointed receiver of the Lake House, which place he filled very acceptably to the guests until 1855; soon after this he traveled through most of the Southern States; upon his return, he became steward of the Briggs' House, Chicago, and soon after the proprietor of the Haskall House, Galesburg; subsequently, had charge of the Ivin's House, Keokuk, Iowa, and of the Ashland House at Bentonsport; he was also concerned in hotels at Fairfield and Agency City; came to Ottumwa in 1858; for nine years was proprietor of a stage-line from this place to Bloomfield, and in 1866 built the Ballingall House, which is the leading hotel in Ottumwa; he is also proprietor of the Depot Hotel; he has been active in all public measures. Was commissioned Major of the 5th Regiment of the Iowa National Guards on the 20th of May,, 1876, and was presented, by the Sheridan Guards, with a handsome gold-mounted sword; he was commissioned Colonel on the 10th of April, 1877, and has received the nomination from nearly all the companies in the State for Major General; he has been the recipient of a large number of valuable testimonials from various public sources, and has been unvaryingly enterprising, public-spirited and energetic. While never an aspirant for official position he has frequently been honored by his party and his fellow citizens with local office. For many years he has been a member of the State Democratic Central committee, and has contributed liberally of his time and money to advance the interests of his party. He was a member of the general assembly of Iowa in 1883. Previous to this, however, he was elected alderman of the city of Ottumwa, and re-elected several terms after. He originated many of the improvements of the city, and urged them with a zeal that insured success. In the spring of 1873 he was nominated for mayor, but was obliged to decline the honor on account of pressing private business, He had also been nominated for senator on the Democratic ticket, and ran over 100 votes ahead of his ticket, and against a party majority of over 200, was beaten by only 109 votes.

A native of Scotland; born in Glasgow March 3, 1830; when about seven years old, he came to America and began his active, self-reliant career as an errand boy, in the Province of Ontario; before he was 11 years old he walked from Coburg, seventy-three miles below Toronto, to Chicago, by a roundabout way, a distance of seven or eight hundred miles; he served in various capacities in different hotels in Chicago, and was finally appointed receiver of the Lake House, which place he filled very acceptably to the guests until 1855; soon after this he traveled through most of the Southern States; upon his return, he became steward of the Briggs' House, Chicago, and soon after the proprietor of the Haskall House, Galesburg; subsequently, had charge of the Ivin's House, Keokuk, Iowa, and of the Ashland House at Bentonsport; he was also concerned in hotels at Fairfield and Agency City; came to Ottumwa in 1858; for nine years was proprietor of a stage-line from this place to Bloomfield, and in 1866 built the Ballingall House, which is the leading hotel in Ottumwa; he is also proprietor of the Depot Hotel; he has been active in all public measures. Was commissioned Major of the 5th Regiment of the Iowa National Guards on the 20th of May,, 1876, and was presented, by the Sheridan Guards, with a handsome gold-mounted sword; he was commissioned Colonel on the 10th of April, 1877, and has received the nomination from nearly all the companies in the State for Major General; he has been the recipient of a large number of valuable testimonials from various public sources, and has been unvaryingly enterprising, public-spirited and energetic. While never an aspirant for official position he has frequently been honored by his party and his fellow citizens with local office. For many years he has been a member of the State Democratic Central committee, and has contributed liberally of his time and money to advance the interests of his party. He was a member of the general assembly of Iowa in 1883. Previous to this, however, he was elected alderman of the city of Ottumwa, and re-elected several terms after. He originated many of the improvements of the city, and urged them with a zeal that insured success. In the spring of 1873 he was nominated for mayor, but was obliged to decline the honor on account of pressing private business, He had also been nominated for senator on the Democratic ticket, and ran over 100 votes ahead of his ticket, and against a party majority of over 200, was beaten by only 109 votes.