Born in Perrysville, Ohio on December 14, 1853. He attended Upper Iowa University in Fayette, Iowa from 1872 to 1875, and then graduated from the University of Iowa law school in 1877, being admitted to the bar the same year. He started practicing law in what was then known as Brush Creek, Iowa, but is now know as Arlington, Iowa. He moved to Grand Island, Nebraska in 1881, and practiced law and did some banking as well.

He became Grand Island's city attorney from 1887 to 1888, and then ran and lost in becoming a congressman from Nebraska to the 52nd congress in 1890. he was a member of the board of trustees for Grand Island College in 1893, and then he was elected mayor of Grand Island from 1895 to 1898. He was a member of the Democratic National Committee from 1896 to 1900 and again from 1920 to 1924.

In 1902, he unsuccessfully ran for governor against John H. Mickey . He became a member of the commission for the creation of a new capital. He was a judge of the Nebraska Supreme court from 1924 to 1931. He was appointed on May 24, 1933 by then governor Charles W. Bryan, brother to democratic presidential candidate William Jennings Bryan, to fill the senate seat of Robert B. Howell when he died. Richard C. Hunter then was elected to replace him. Died in Grand Island, Nebraska, on June 6, 1937 and interment in Grand Island Cemetery.