Background
He was taken to Toledo, Ohio at an early age, and learned his father’s trade of shoemaker.
United States representative lawyer politician
He was taken to Toledo, Ohio at an early age, and learned his father’s trade of shoemaker.
Studied law, Buffalo, New York Admitted to bar, 1847, began practice of law, Buffalo.
In 1847, he was admitted to the bar and commenced practice in Buffalo. In 1863, he was appointed by Governor Horatio Seymour a justice of the New York Supreme Court, to fill the vacancy caused by the death of James J. Hoyt. Later that year, he was elected to the remainder of Hoyt"s term, then re-elected to an eight-year term in 1869, and re-elected to a fourteen-year term in 1877, remaining on the bench until the end of 1891, when his term expired.
In 1869, he was ex officio a judge of the New York Court of Appeals.
In 1886, he ran for the New York Court of Appeals, but was defeated by Democrat Rufus West. Peckham, Junior.
He was elected as a Republican to the 53rd and 54th United States Congresses, and served from March 4, 1893, to March 3, 1897. He was Chairman of the Committee on Elections Number.
1 (Fifty-fourth Congress). He was buried at Forest Lawn Cemetery in Buffalo.
Member United States House