He served as principal of Utica Free Academy in 1850 and 1851 and became editor and proprietor of the Utica Morning Herald 1851 - 1889. He was a delegate to the Republican National Conventions in 1864, 1868, and 1876; and a member of the New York State Assembly (Oneida Co., 2nd D.) in 1867.
In his early career, he served as principal of Utica Free Academy from 1850 to 1851. He then went on to become the editor and owner of the Utica Morning Herald for nearly four decades. Furthermore, he played a significant role in Republican politics, participating in three national conventions and serving in the New York State Assembly in 1867.