He was born in Preston, Waterloo County, Ontario in 1840. He worked for Jacob Hespeler in Preston before moving to Pembroke where he worked for a firm of general merchants. In 1868, he married Mary Annie Wright.
Born in Preston, Waterloo County, Ontario in 1840, he initially worked for Jacob Hespeler in Preston before moving to Pembroke and working for a general merchants firm. In 1868, he married Mary Annie Wright.