Born in Scott County, Indiana, July 25, 1824. He was raised on the farm and was practically a farmer during his entire life. In 1841 he made his first visit to Iowa, assisting to drive what was thought to be the first flock of sheep into the state. He made his second visit in 1845, and located in 1849 in Wapello County, where he bought an 80 acre farm. The farm soon grew to 260 acres, which he sold in 1863 and removed to near New York, Union township, Wayne County, where he purchased 400 acres and soon became one of the largest land owners. He married Miss Mary Hamacher in Scott County, Indiana in 1845. He was a prominent politician, being a Whig and one of the original abolitionists. Throughout the war he was a Republican, drifting into the Greenback party in 1877, and afterwards affiliating with the Democratic Party. In 1878 he was elected senator from the counties of Wayne and Monroe, being elected on the Greenback ticket. The following year he was nominated by the Greenback party for governor of Iowa, and in the fall of 1882 was the nominee of the same party for congress in this the eighth congressional district. He was a prohibitionist always and an elder in the Christian Church.

Born in Scott County, Indiana, July 25, 1824. He was raised on the farm and was practically a farmer during his entire life. In 1841 he made his first visit to Iowa, assisting to drive what was thought to be the first flock of sheep into the state. He made his second visit in 1845, and located in 1849 in Wapello County, where he bought an 80 acre farm. The farm soon grew to 260 acres, which he sold in 1863 and removed to near New York, Union township, Wayne County, where he purchased 400 acres and soon became one of the largest land owners. He married Miss Mary Hamacher in Scott County, Indiana in 1845. He was a prominent politician, being a Whig and one of the original abolitionists. Throughout the war he was a Republican, drifting into the Greenback party in 1877, and afterwards affiliating with the Democratic Party. In 1878 he was elected senator from the counties of Wayne and Monroe, being elected on the Greenback ticket. The following year he was nominated by the Greenback party for governor of Iowa, and in the fall of 1882 was the nominee of the same party for congress in this the eighth congressional district. He was a prohibitionist always and an elder in the Christian Church.