Born in Adams County, Ohio, on the 17th of September, 1838. He was educated at South Salem Academy and in the fall of 1856 came to Iowa and first located at Oskaloosa where he was admitted to the bar in 1858. He soon after removed to Corydon where he opened a law office. In July, 1861, he assisted in raising Company I, of the Fourth Iowa Volunteer Infantry and was chosen first lieutenant. In 1862 he was promoted to lieutenant-colonel of the Twenty-third Regiment. Upon the death of Colonel Kinsman he was promoted to the command of the regiment, making an excellent officer and before the close of the war attained the rank of brevet Brigadier-General. Upon his return home he was elected on the Republican ticket Representative in the Eleventh General Assembly. In 1867 he was appointed United States Consul to Havre, France, where he remained several years. In 1872 he was sent to Glasgow, Scotland, as United States Consul.

Born in Adams County, Ohio, on the 17th of September, 1838. He was educated at South Salem Academy and in the fall of 1856 came to Iowa and first located at Oskaloosa where he was admitted to the bar in 1858. He soon after removed to Corydon where he opened a law office. In July, 1861, he assisted in raising Company I, of the Fourth Iowa Volunteer Infantry and was chosen first lieutenant. In 1862 he was promoted to lieutenant-colonel of the Twenty-third Regiment. Upon the death of Colonel Kinsman he was promoted to the command of the regiment, making an excellent officer and before the close of the war attained the rank of brevet Brigadier-General. Upon his return home he was elected on the Republican ticket Representative in the Eleventh General Assembly. In 1867 he was appointed United States Consul to Havre, France, where he remained several years. In 1872 he was sent to Glasgow, Scotland, as United States Consul.