Born in Montgomery county, Ohio, December 29, 1811. When six years old he moved with his father's family to Wayne county, Indiana. From there to Tippecanoe county, same state, and there passed the remainder of his childhood. He was converted at 19 and united with the M. E. church. He soon began studying for the ministry believing that God required this of him. He entered. the ministry in 1833 and traveled two years on- the Princeton work. On December 10, 1836, he was united in marriage to Miss Nancy Stirlen, near Terra Haute, Indiana. The next year he, with his father and some of his friends, came to Iowa Territory, and settled in Grandview township. The most of his time between 1837 and 1852 was passed in improving his farm and traveling in the cause of his Master. In August, 1852, the democrats of Louisa county, elected him in as representative to the State General Assembly to convene at Iowa City the following winter and which office he filled to the best wished of his constituents. He filled various offices of trust in both church and state.