He came to Minnesota in 1862.
In 1862, in partnership with two other capitalists, he build the first railroad in Minnesota from Saint Paul to Saint Anthony (A History of the City of Saint Paul, and the County of Ramsey, Minnesota by Fletcher, p. 403).
He was a member of the Saint Paul Chamber of Commerce, a member and President of the Minnesota Historical Society and various other banks and companies. In 1876, he was the first president of the Minnesota Forestry Association.
He died at Coronado Beach, California and is buried at Oakland Cemetery, Saint Paul, Minnesota.