Born in Jefferson county, N. Y., October 16, 1824, and in 1833 removed to Summit county, Ohio, and to Iowa in 1841, and settled in Big Grove township, where he took a claim. In 1850 he went to California, and returned in 1851. He then commenced buying and shipping stock and was the largest shipper in the county for some years. In 1876 he bought some fine Imported Short-horns, and since then has been breeding and raising fine stock. In 1876 he was elected to the legislature, and served one term in the Sixteenth General Assembly. In January, 1882, he was appointed agent of the land department by Secretary Kirkwood, and assigned to Minnesota and remained there four months, when he resigned. He was married July 5, 1846, to Miss Phoebe L. Sutliff, of Trumbull county, Ohio.