Senator from the Seventeenth District, composed of the counties of Audubon, Dallas and Guthrie, was born of American parentage in LaClede county, Missouri, January 21, 1876. Worked as operator and station agent on the Milwaukee railroad from the time he was sixteen years of age until he became twenty. Attended the public schools at Manning, the Normal School at Valpariso, Indiana, and State University of Iowa. Was graduated from the law department of the State University of Iowa in June, 1898. In July of that year he located for the practice of law at Audubon, and became the senior member of Cosson & Ross. Elected County Attorney of Audubon county In 1904, serving one term. Was married in December, 1904, to Miss Jennie F. Riggs, and has two children. In June, 1907, became special counsel of Iowa under Attorney General H. W. Byers. Elected Senator in 1908. A Republican in politics.