United States Congressman. He served in the United States House of Representatives as a Republican from the 6th Congressional District of the State of Kansas in the Forty-eighth and Forty-ninth Congresses from March 4, 1883 to March 3, 1887. In his last two-year term, he missed 55% of the roll-called votes. Although a candidate for the 50th Congress, he was not re-elected. As a child, he was educated in local schools followed by Cherry Grove Seminary in Knox County, Illinois for three years. He taught school in Morgan County from 1860 to 1861. After the Civil War started, he enlisted as a private in the Tenth Illinois Volunteer Infantry moving up in rank to brigade inspector on the staff of Col. G. W. Roberts, and served with the Fourth Army Corps, Army of Cumberland. He studied law in Albany, New York returning to Illinois to marry Hester Ann Cooper before relocating to Topeka, Kansas. He was admitted to the bar in 1865 and began his practice. He was elected to Justice of the Peace in 1867. He became Probate Judge of Shawnee County from 1868 to 1872. He served as assistant chief clerk to the Kansas State House of Representatives. In 1877 he served as assistant secretary of the State of Kansas Senate. He served as assistant United States District Attorney of Kansas from 1877 to 1879. He served as the Receiver of Public Moneys at Salina, Kansas. After leaving Washington D.C in 1887, he continued to practice law. His detailed letters, which were written to his wife during the Civil War, are archived in the United States Library of Congress. Muriel Culp Barbe's 1949 book entitled “A Union Forever” was partially based on these letters. His activities with Company K, 27th Illinois Infantry Regiment is documented in the letters as well as notes about the viewing of President Lincoln's body and putting the body on the train to travel from Washington D.C to Illinois.