Native of the State of Maine and was born June 13, 1827. He entered Bowdoin College in September 1813, and graduated in the classical and law departments in 1848. After leaving college he taught school a couple of years in his native state. He was then appointed to conduct Teacher's Institutes, which labors he very successfully performed. In 1854, he came to Iowa and settled in Camanche. The next year, 1855, he removed to Albion. In the later year, he brought the first Printing Press to this county and in connection with one or two other parties stated The Iowa Central Journal of which he remained the editor for about two years. In 1856 he was elected School Fund Commissioner and held the office until 1860. He was prominent in the work of founding the Iowa Lutheran College. In the fall of 1865, he was elected as a Representative serving in the Eleventh General Assembly of the State Legislature. He was chairman of the Committee on Schools and State University and rendered very distinguished services in connection with the Educational interests of the State. In the Spring of 1866, he removed to Marshalltown, when he established the Marshall Seminary. In the Autumn of 1866 he was appointed to fill a vacancy in the office of County Superintendent of Schools for this County, and elected to a full term at the ensuing general election.