At the age of seventeen years he enlisted in the Northern Army, and served to the close of the Civil War as bugler in Company D, First Regiment of Delaware Cavalry. x\t the close of the Civil War he was honorably discharged. He re-enlisted and saw service on the western frontier, during the time that the Indians were causing the United States so much annoyance. He was honorably discharged a second time and for some time afterward worked at whatever he was able to find, employment being scarce and wages low.

He entered a printing office at Danville, Iowa, as an apprentice. In 1873 he came to Nebraska, settling at David City, in Butler , county, being one of the pioneers of that city. Here he established the "Butler County Press," which he conducted for more than thirty-three years.

On December 31, 1880, he was married to Nancy M. Brownseet, a native of New England. To this union were born three daughters, Emma M., Grace A., and Ruby L., and one son who died in infancy.

He was one of the leading democrats of the state of Nebraska, serving four terms as state representative and one term as state senator from Butler county. He was a member of the board of control of the Soldiers and Sailors Home at Grand Island and Milford for three years.

In 1898 he was appointed secretary of the Nebraska Commission of the Trans-Mississippi Exposition held at Omaha, Nebraska, serving during 1898 and 1899. In 1904 he was a delegate from Nebraska to the Democratic National Convention at St. Louis, Missouri, and at one time was chairman of the Democratic State Convention.