Born in Providence, R.I., April 12, 1831. He came west in 1855, spending the winter of that year in Fayette county, Iowa, and going back east as far as Ohio in 1856. There he was married in the same year to Elizabeth S. Dunbar, and in 1858 they came to Keokuk county, settling on a farm in the neighborhood of What Cheer. It was a short but honorable one. Soon after the outbreak of the war he organized Company F, 8th Iowa infantry, and was made its captain. The company took the field in August, 1861, and in the following February its captain was promoted to the rank of major. That was the end of promotion, however, for at the battle of Shiloh, April 6, 1862, the major received a gunshot wound in the head that rendered him incapable of further service during the struggle. He was granted an honorable discharge from the service of the cause for which he suffered so much. In 1864 the people of Keokuk county honored the major by electing him their representative in the general assembly of the state. He served two years and was then elected county clerk for two years, removing from his farm into the town of Sigourney in order to assume the duties of the office. He removed to Davenport in April, 1869, and engaged in the commission business and in 1876 was elected clerk of the district and circuit courts. He was a prominent mover in the organization of numerous Davenport Lodges and societies. He was one of the first to suggest the organization of August Wentz Post, G. A. R., has been its commander and always a member; he was one of the organizers of Company B, I. N. G.,. and was a charter member of A. O. U. W Lodge No. 17, of Scott Lodge No. 2, Iowa Legion of Honor, and also of the American Legion of honor. He was a member of the order of the Knights of Pythias and a past chancellor commander of Damon Lodge No. 10.