Born November 23, 1817 in Cranston, R. I. He was married to Miss Margaret Furlong, March 29, 1847, ;who died August 22, 1851, leaving two children. On February 16, 1853, he was united in marriage to Miss Emily Gates of Salem, Mass. In the year 1854 he came to Iowa, settling on Makee ridge on the quarter section bought by the county in 1866 for a poor farm, and became one of the pioneer farmers of Allamakee county. In 1861 he was elected to the Legislature, and served two sessions in the Ninth General Assembly. He also served his township for a number of terms as Justice of the Peace. He was for more than a quarter of a century a member of the Masonic order, and since 1870 became a charter member of the I. O. O. F., and was always faithful to the best precepts of these orders, always a good citizen and neighbor, honored and respected by all.