Born in Erie County, New York, on the 8th of March, 1823, and in boyhood attended the schools of that county later receiving instruction at Professor Dewey's Academy in Rochester. He was reared on a farm and followed that business for many years in New York but for a time was engaged in manufacturing. He served as superintendent of public schools and county supervisor before leaving that State. In 1870 he removed to Iowa, making his home on a new farm in Lucas County. At the beginning of the Civil War he volunteered but was rejected by the examining surgeon because of physical disability. In the early years of the slavery agitation he was a member of the Republican party but of late has become a prominent Democrat. In 1875 he was nominated by the Democrats of the Sixth District for State Senator, to represent the counties of Lucas and Clarke and was elected for four years, serving in the Sixteenth and Seventeenth General Assemblies. He was the author of the resolutions passed by the latter providing for an investigation of the affairs and management of the Fort Madison Penitentiary and was made a member of the commission. In 1891 he was nominated by the Democratic State Convention for Lieutenant-Governor on the ticket with Governor Boies and was elected over George Van Houten, the Republican candidate, by a plurality of 3,098, being the only Democrat ever elected to that office in Iowa.

Born in Erie County, New York, on the 8th of March, 1823, and in boyhood attended the schools of that county later receiving instruction at Professor Dewey's Academy in Rochester. He was reared on a farm and followed that business for many years in New York but for a time was engaged in manufacturing. He served as superintendent of public schools and county supervisor before leaving that State. In 1870 he removed to Iowa, making his home on a new farm in Lucas County. At the beginning of the Civil War he volunteered but was rejected by the examining surgeon because of physical disability. In the early years of the slavery agitation he was a member of the Republican party but of late has become a prominent Democrat. In 1875 he was nominated by the Democrats of the Sixth District for State Senator, to represent the counties of Lucas and Clarke and was elected for four years, serving in the Sixteenth and Seventeenth General Assemblies. He was the author of the resolutions passed by the latter providing for an investigation of the affairs and management of the Fort Madison Penitentiary and was made a member of the commission. In 1891 he was nominated by the Democratic State Convention for Lieutenant-Governor on the ticket with Governor Boies and was elected over George Van Houten, the Republican candidate, by a plurality of 3,098, being the only Democrat ever elected to that office in Iowa.