Born in the old historic town of Prairie du Chien, Crawford county, Wisconsin, July 9, 1850. His father was a New Yorker by birth and his mother a Kentuckian with English ancestry. His father was engaged in the lumbering business, with mills at Chippewa City, in the northern part of the state, and was a member of the territorial Senate at the time said state was admitted into the Union, and to which office he was elected after said admission. The subject of this sketch became a raft pilot on the Mississippi river at the age of 15, and a steamboat pilot at the age of 18, in which pursuit his summers were employed until the railroads broke up the steamboat business. He was educated at Prairie du Chien College and Notre Dame University, taking the full classical course and graduating with the degree of Ph. B. In 1870 he went to New York and engaged in newspaper work, furnishing feature articles for syndicates and metropolitan dailies, also magazine sketch articles. He came to LeMars, Plymouth county, Iowa, in 1874, but did not locate there permanently until 1875. First engaged in the real estate and collection business and afterwards in abstracting, which vocation he now follows. During all these years he has kept up to a greater or less extent his literary work. In November, 1886, was married to Nora E. Joyce at Cambridge City, Indiana, of which issue there are two boys, Ambrose B., aged 7, and Joseph Walter, aged 5. Has never held public office except that of assessor and city clerk, which latter position he now occupies for the city of LeMars. Was also deputy clerk of courts of Plymouth, county for eight years. Has always been identified with the Democratic party, and stumped the state of New York for Greeley at the time of his nomination for the presidency. He is past master of the A. O. U. W., member of the grand lodge of the state of Iowa, and supreme knight; also a member of the Independent Order of Foresters, and chief ranger of the local lodge. In religion he is a Catholic, and is specially interested in legislation pertaining to the public schools and upon the liquor question. Choice for United States Senator, Horace Boies, of Waterloo. His position on liquor legislation is as follows: High license, local option, manufacturing in the state, and no resubmission.
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