Born in Delaware in 1814, being a descendant of the early Swedish settlers of that State. His parents removed to Philadelphia where he was yet an infant; and there he obtained a good education, and learned the business of lithographing. He came to Dubuque in 1837, and having in early life studied surveying, obtained employment as a clerk in the office of the Surveyor General, and soon became himself a practical surveyor. He surveyed much of the public lands in this State and Wisconsin and Minnesota. He filled for a term the office of Register of Public Lands. He was a member, about 1854, of the Legislature of Iowa from this county. He was a member of the Board of Supervisors of this county for some years, and chairman of that Board. He was for some years Clerk of the Supreme Court of the State. In all three positions, and especially as Clerk of the Supreme Court a position peculiarly fitted for his disposition, he gave excellent satisfaction.