U.S. Congressman. He attended Bethel College, Cumberland University and served as a a member of the Tennessee State House of Representatives, (1869-70). He graduated from the law department of Cumberland University in 1872, was admitted to the bar in 1873 and commenced to practice law in Jackson, Tennessee. Appointed a commissioner by Governor Albert Marks in 1878, he served on the Tennessee State executive committee, (1878-80) and edited the Jackson Tribune and Sun newspapers, (1874-86). In 1877, he was elected as a Democrat to the Fiftieth Congress and to the next three succeeding Congresses, serving until 1895. After his final term, he edited the Daily Sun, the Louisville Dispatch and was secretary of the Tennessee State fair commission as director for the exhibits from Tennessee, at St. Louis World’s Fair in 1903. In 1904, he was elected railroad commissioner of Tennessee and served until his death at age 74.U.S. Congressman. He attended Bethel College, Cumberland University and served as a a member of the Tennessee State House of Representatives, (1869-70). He graduated from the law department of Cumberland University in 1872, was admitted to the bar in 1873 and commenced to practice law in Jackson, Tennessee. Appointed a commissioner by Governor Albert Marks in 1878, he served on the Tennessee State executive committee, (1878-80) and edited the Jackson Tribune and Sun newspapers, (1874-86). In 1877, he was elected as a Democrat to the Fiftieth Congress and to the next three succeeding Congresses, serving until 1895. After his final term, he edited the Daily Sun, the Louisville Dispatch and was secretary of the Tennessee State fair commission as director for the exhibits from Tennessee, at St. Louis World’s Fair in 1903. In 1904, he was elected railroad commissioner of Tennessee and served until his death at age 74.