Born in Jefferson county, Ohio, in 1821. When about six years old his parents immigrated to Guernsey County, Ohio, where, in 1848, he received a local injury, which rendered him unfit for farming, and he engaged in the mercantile business, which he followed till 1856. He then immigrated to Rock island County, Illinois, and engaged in farming, and in 1858 he came to Marion County, where he also followed farming, and came from there to this county in the spring of 1860, and first settled in Allen Township and came to his present homestead of 120 acres in 1866. In 1864 he represented this county in the tenth general assembly, elected by a majority of about 900. In May, 1864, he enlisted in Co. A., Forty-eighth Regiment Iowa Volunteer Infantry, and served till the expiration of the term of the enlistment. He was married in Ohio in 1844, to Miss Maria Chidester, of that State.