Born in Grafton county, New Hampshire, July 3, 1826. When he was four years old the family moved to Bradford, Orange county, Vermont. His parents were poor, and as a consequence his advantages for an education were very limited. At fifteen he was sent out to shift for himself. He drifted to Plymouth county, Massachusetts, where he engaged in learning to make boots and shoes, faithfully devoting his spare money to the purchase of books and his leisure hours to the acquirement of an education of which he felt the most urgent need. In 1846 he went to southern Illinois and became a school teacher, always being himself the most earnest student. After three years he returned to New England and soon took up his abode again in Massachusetts, this time as bookkeeper and partner in the business of manufacturing shoes. From too close application, his health became impaired and for two or three years he devoted himself solely to an effort to regain it, and in 1865, mainly in pursuit of that object, he emigrated to Buchanan county, Iowa, and was among the early settlers of the town of Jesup. He almost constantly occupied positions of trust, and was in 1871 elected to the legislature, serving acceptably. In 1850 he was married to Alma E. Hibbard, of Orange county, Vermont. They were members of the Baptist Church.