He moved to Illinois in 1859 and for two years was principal of a village school in Lee County.

During the Civil War, he enlisted as first lieutenant of Company C, thirty-fourth Regiment, Illinois Volunteer Infantry, September 7, 1861.

He served as member of the Illinois House of Representatives in 1872, and was a delegate to the Republican National Convention in 1876 and 1888.

He served as president of the Effingham State Bank 1903-1912, and chairman of the board of directors 1912-1915.

This article incorporates public domain material from the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress