Born in Marshall County, Virginia, September 4, 1832. His father came with his family to the "Black Hawk Purchase" in 1836, locating at Bentonsport, in Van Buren County. Here the son assisted in the work of the farm, attending the public school in the winter. He began to read law at the early age of thirteen and in 1847 walked to Keosauqua and procured a place in the law office of Wright and Knapp. After a few years he became a partner in the firm and when twenty-four was elected prosecuting attorney. In 1859 he was elected to the House of the Eighth General Assembly and was appointed chairman of the judiciary committee. When the Civil War began he was commissioned major of the Third Cavalry and reached the rank of colonel in 1804. In June of that year he was appointed by President Lincoln Judge of the United States District Court for Arkansas. He served in that position until 1891 when he was appointed Judge of the United States Circuit Court for the District of Arkansas, Missouri, Kansas, Nebraska, Iowa, Minnesota, North and South Dakota, Wyoming and Colorado. He has rendered many important and far-reaching decisions affecting the rights of the common people and especially protecting laborers from oppression of powerful corporations. In his official capacity he is above the influence which wealth and power too often combine to accomplish selfish purposes.