He received a common school education and came to the Wisconsin Territory in 1845, settling in Milton, in Rock County.
[1] He was elected to the Wisconsin State Assembly in 1869, running on the Republican ticket and was subsequently re-elected in 1870.
[1] Following the Peshtigo fire, in October 1871, he was active in the recovery and relief efforts, and was responsible for disbursing donated funds and goods.
[3] In 1874, he was elected to the Wisconsin State Senate, representing all of Winnebago County.
[3] He died after a long illness in August 1905, at his home in Fox Crossing, Wisconsin.