House 1866-68 (District 14); Senate 1871 (District 14); Senate 1872 (District 3)
Party when first elected: Republican
Counties Served: Fillmore
Ohio District Schools; Elementary School; Winter MonthsAcademy, Twinsburg, Summit County, Ohio; Secondary; Academy, Painsville, Ohio; Secondary; Grand River Institute, Austinburg, Ohio; Secondary; Studied Law; Perkins and Osborn; Admitted to the Ohio Bar, 1851Law School, Balston Springs, New York; Law Degree;
Spouse: Maria N. Carpender (married on November 17, 1852, she died on March 6, 1866, while he was in office); Widower; Susan C. Sharp (remarried on January 13, 1869) Children: Nine children: George R., and Charles J. (sons with his first wife); Carrie M. (daughter, with his first wife, she died before he served); John Frederick, John Coy, Daniel Elwin, Ernest Melvin, Frank C., and James Duane (sons, with his second wife, some were born after he left office) Family Members Who Have Served in the Minnesota Legislature:
He was of English and Scottish ancestry.He moved to Madison, Lake County, Ohio in 1833, with his parents. He came to Minnesota in 1864 and settled in Spring Valley."He was a Henry Clay Whig in his politics and helped to organize the Republican party, with which he has always been identified." (Shutter, Marion D., and McLain, J.S. Progressive Men of Minnesota, 1887, p. 75.)He died on a railway train.