Born in Harden county, Ohio ,October 20, 1836. He moved with his parents to Cedar county, Iowa, in 1846, and later moved to Van Buren county, Iowa. In 1843. when 17 years of age, he went to Garnett, Kansas, where he taught school for one year, later returning home to enter college at the Iowa Wesleyan University, graduating there. He was married to Mary A. MacDowell in Ottumwa, Iowa, in 1861. He enlisted in Co. I, 45th Iowa Infantry volunteers, where he served until he was honorably discharged in September, 1864. He moved to Adams county, Iowa, In I865, settling in Nodaway township. In 1867 he was elected county superintendent and served in that capacity for two terms. Later he moved to Washington, Kansas, where he engaged in teaching school, and was at this time admitted to the bar, for the practice of law. The following year he returned to Iowa, and bought a farm, three miles west of Corning. In 1877 he again moved to Corning and was a prominent businessman for a number of years. He was mayor of Corning in 1880 and 1881. He was elected member of the 20th general assembly of the Iowa legislature. In 1887 he moved to Bedford, Iowa, and was engaged in the hardware and furniture business for nine years. He then moved to Texas, where he was engaged in farming, and later to Kansas.