US Congressman. A member of the Democratic Party, he served in the US House of Representatives from California from March 1873 until March 1879. HE attended local schools around Knoxville, Tennessee and in 1844 he moved with his parents to a farm in Alabama. The following year he moved again with his parents to a farm near St. Joseph, Missouri. In 1852 he went to California and became a miner of a while before settling in Yolo County to pursue farming. In 1853 he moved to Prairie City (later Folsom), to El Dorado County in 1854 and then to Watsonville in Santa Cruz County, and to Alameda County, all in California. After studying law, he was admitted to the bar and in 1856 began a law practice in Oakland, California. He served as a Justice of the Peace in Brooklyn (now a part of Oakland), California in 1856 and 1857. In 1858 he moved to Siskiyou County, California and purchased a ranch near Fort Jones where he engaged in agricultural pursuits, mining, and the practice of law. In 1865 and 1866 he was sergeant at arms of the California State Assembly and from 1871 to 1872 he served as a member of the Assembly. In late 1872 he ran on the Democratic ticket for US Congress and won, and was re-elected for two additional terms. In 1878 he declined to run again and returned to California to resume his law practice, farming, and mining. From 1887 to 1889 he served as a member of the board of state prison directors. In 1893 he was appointed US Commissioner of Fisheries and special agent of the US Treasury for Alaska and died there at the age of 63.
US Congressman. A member of the Democratic Party, he served in the US House of Representatives from California from March 1873 until March 1879. HE attended local schools around Knoxville, Tennessee and in 1844 he moved with his parents to a farm in Alabama. The following year he moved again with his parents to a farm near St. Joseph, Missouri. In 1852 he went to California and became a miner of a while before settling in Yolo County to pursue farming. In 1853 he moved to Prairie City (later Folsom), to El Dorado County in 1854 and then to Watsonville in Santa Cruz County, and to Alameda County, all in California. After studying law, he was admitted to the bar and in 1856 began a law practice in Oakland, California. He served as a Justice of the Peace in Brooklyn (now a part of Oakland), California in 1856 and 1857. In 1858 he moved to Siskiyou County, California and purchased a ranch near Fort Jones where he engaged in agricultural pursuits, mining, and the practice of law. In 1865 and 1866 he was sergeant at arms of the California State Assembly and from 1871 to 1872 he served as a member of the Assembly. In late 1872 he ran on the Democratic ticket for US Congress and won, and was re-elected for two additional terms. In 1878 he declined to run again and returned to California to resume his law practice, farming, and mining. From 1887 to 1889 he served as a member of the board of state prison directors. In 1893 he was appointed US Commissioner of Fisheries and special agent of the US Treasury for Alaska and died there at the age of 63.
Bio by: William Bjornstad
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