Born in Florence, Boone county, Kentucky, August 8, 1827. In 1832 he removed with his parents to Covington, Kentucky, and lived there until his removal to Vermillion, Illinois, in 1834. He remained there until twenty years of age, and then commenced reading law in Bowling Green, Clay county, Indiana, and was admitted to the bar in April, 1849. He returned to Illinois, and assisted his father in building a saw-mill. He then engaged in teaching school in Indiana, in order to obtain money to purchase law books and come West. He purchased a horse, and putting his law library, consisting of six volumes, on one side and his wardrobe on the other side of his horse, rode on horseback 500 miles, arriving here the 6th of June, 1852, and engaged in the practice of his profession, and is the oldest practitioner at the bar in Warren county. In 1853 he was elected prosecuting attorney, in 1858 filled the office of county superintendent of public schools, and was the first in the county. In 1859 he was elected to the lower house of the State legislature. He married Miss Sarah L. Drabell, in September, 1855.