U.S. Congressman. During the Civil war, he served as a Private in the Illinois Elgin Battery, Union Army, (1863-65). After the war, he studied law, was admitted to the bar in 1871 and commenced to practice law in Canton, Territory of Dakota. He was district attorney of Lincoln County in 1874, Mayor of Canton, (1881-82) and a member of the State constitutional convention of South Dakota, in 1883. In 1885, he was elected as a Republican a Delegate to the Forty-ninth and Fiftieth Congresses, serving until 1889. Upon the admission of South Dakota as a State into the Union, he was elected as a Representative to the Fifty-first Congress, serving (1889-91). Not a candidate for re-election, he resumed the practice of law until his death at age 70.

U.S. Congressman. During the Civil war, he served as a Private in the Illinois Elgin Battery, Union Army, (1863-65). After the war, he studied law, was admitted to the bar in 1871 and commenced to practice law in Canton, Territory of Dakota. He was district attorney of Lincoln County in 1874, Mayor of Canton, (1881-82) and a member of the State constitutional convention of South Dakota, in 1883. In 1885, he was elected as a Republican a Delegate to the Forty-ninth and Fiftieth Congresses, serving until 1889. Upon the admission of South Dakota as a State into the Union, he was elected as a Representative to the Fifty-first Congress, serving (1889-91). Not a candidate for re-election, he resumed the practice of law until his death at age 70.

Bio by: John "J-Cat" Griffith