His scenes of horse-and-buggy days in small towns of the Victorian era included situations taken from memories of his childhood in his hometown of Richmond, Indiana.
Labeled the "Hoosier Cartoonist" or the "James Whitcomb Riley of the Pencil", his cartoon panels captured the flavor of a bygone era to the degree they were deemed worthy of reprinting in the mid-20th century years after his death.
In Indianapolis, where he had a growing reputation as a designer of book plates, he married Magdalena "Lena" Engelbert, a graduate of Earlham College in his hometown.
His well-known drawings include The End of a Perfect Day, depicting the American doughboy returning from World War I, and Long Boy, published on the William Herschell song sheet.
Others were Among the Folks in History (four portfolios), Mort Green and Wife, Our Secret Ambition, Something Ought to be Done About This, Static, A Strain on the Family Tie and Wotta Life!