He was born August 1, 1854, in Lewisboro, New York, the son of James F. and Annie E. Walsh.

At the age of ten, he moved to Ridgefield, Connecticut where he attended High Ridge Institute.

In 1877, he began studying law in the office of Huested W. R. Hoyt, in Greenwich.

In the same year, he began his service on the Connecticut Republican Central Committee.

He was appointed judge of the Criminal Branch of the Court of Common Pleas, but resigned in 1900 to continue his law practice, business and political pursuits.