His family moved to Arkansas, where he attended public school.

He later moved to Indian Territory where he founded a mercantile store in Tulsa.

He was known for his friendships with outlaws and his clerk later boasted the mercantile store was never robbed.

[2] While mayor, he helped establish Tulsa Public Schools in 1898, helped establish the first federal courthouse, and brought Santa Fe Railroad to Tulsa.

After leaving office he invested heavily in real estate and helped organize the first Masonic lodge in town.