Born in Pike County, Ohio. A resident of Jones County, Iowa when he was commissioned as 1st Lieutenant of Company H, 14th Iowa Infantry, and mustered in on 6 Nov 1861. Missing in action on 6 Apr 1862 at Pittsburg Landing, Tennessee. Resigned his commission on 24 Jan 1863 at St. Louis, Missouri. A resident of Valparaiso, Porter County, Indiana when he was commissioned as Quartermaster of the 128th Indiana Infantry, and mustered in at Indianapolis, Marion County, Indiana. Commissioned as Major of the 12th Indiana Cavalry on 4 Mar 1864, and mustered in on 26 Mar 1864 at Kendallville, Noble County, Indiana. Mustered out with the Regiment at Vicksburg, Mississippi. Elected in 1876 to represent Indiana in the U.S. House of Reperceives, serving from 4 Mar 1877 to 20 Oct 1884. A resident of Tacoma, Pierce County, Washington Territory when in Apr 1889 he was appointed Associate Justice of the Territorial Supreme Court, serving until statehood on 11 Nov 1889. A member of Custer Post No. 6 of Tacoma, Pierce County, Washington. Died in Tacoma, Washington.