He studied law under Judge Enoch H. Rosekrans, of the New York Supreme Court, and Orange Ferriss, who would later serve in Congress.
He graduated from Albany Law School in 1857 and was admitted to the New York State Bar Association.
In 1864, he was elected to represent Sheboygan County in the Wisconsin State Senate on the National Union ticket.
He left the senate after a single two-year term and became President of the Sheboygan and Fond du Lac Railroad.
In 1876, he was appointed by President Ulysses S. Grant to be United States Commissioner of Pensions after the brief term and resignation of fellow Wisconsinite Charles R. Gill.