He served as a member of the Wisconsin State Senate, representing Green County, and later served as chairman of the Republican Party of Wisconsin.

Treat was born on December 22, 1836, in Orono, Maine.

They had two sons, including Charles Treat, who became a major general in the United States Army.

There, he established a dry-goods business before becoming involved in lumber and banking.

[4] Other positions he held include Mayor and member of the school board of Monroe, Chairman of the county board of Green County, Wisconsin, Chairman of the Republican State Central Committee and delegate to the 1900 Republican National Convention.