Born in Kentucky,[1] at an early age he moved to Hamilton County, Ohio, and then to Alton, Illinois, in 1832, where he practiced law.

[2] He was serving as a justice of the peace at the time of the riots that resulted in the murder of abolitionist Elijah P. Lovejoy, and was active in attempting to preserve order in the city.

He was a candidate for delegate to Wisconsin's first constitutional convention in 1846, but was defeated by John Y. Smith.

After the first constitution was rejected by voters, however, he was elected to serve in the 5th Wisconsin Territorial Assembly as a representative of Dane, Green, and Sauk counties.

During the 1849 session, he was the Whig nominee for United States Senator, but the Democrats held a substantial majority in the Legislature and selected Isaac P. Walker instead.