of law, and in 1872 was elected secretary of the Iowa state senate, was reelected in 1874, 1876 and 1878, serving four terms. He was elected secretary of the state of Iowa in 1878 and reelected in 1880 and in 1882, serving three terms. In 1885 he was elected lieutenant-governor of Iowa and was reelected in 1887, serving two terms. In 1890 he was elected representative from the seventh district of Iowa to the fifty-second Congress, defeating H. C. Harges, Democrat, by two thousand five hundred and forty-five plurality. He served on the committee on Military Affairs, and on Railroads and Canals. He was reelected to the fifty-third Congress in 1892 by a plurality of six thousand and eighty votes over his Democratic opponent, and was continued on the same committees. On his election to the fifty-fourth Congress in 1894 he defeated the Democratic Fusionist candidate by a majority of seven thousand two hundred and twenty-five; on his election to the fifty-fifth Congress in 1896 he was chosen over F. W. Evans, Fusionist, by a majority of six thousand two hundred and twenty-six. In 1898 he was elected to the fifty-sixth Congress over C. O. Holly, Democrat, T. G. Orwig, Prohibitionist and C. M. James, Populist, by seven thousand six hundred and fifty-two plurality and served as chairman of the committee on Militia. He was reelected in 1900 to the fifty-seventh Congress and in 1902 to the fifty-eighth Congress by increased pluralities and continued at the head of the committee on Military Affairs, and in 1904 he was elected to the fifty-ninth Congress. He is connected with the Masonic Order, with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, with the Knights of Pythias, and with the Military Order of the Loyal Legion, and the Grand Army of the Republic.
He was married July 17, 1863, to Emma G. Gregory, and of their four children three were living in 1905.
He found his favorite recreation in riding and his most helpful books for reading and study were the Bible and Shakespeare. He has no church affiliations. He recommends to American youth the practice of industry, sobriety and perseverance as the chief means for strengthening the ideals of American life, and of attaining true success in that life.
