He grew up in rural areas of Iowa and South Dakota and attended Pennsylvania College in Iowa and later the University of Michigan, where he graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1897, and Cornell University, where he received his Ph.D. in 1900.
He was raised in rural areas of Iowa and South Dakota, attended Pennsylvania College in Iowa, and later the University of Michigan, where he earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1897, and Cornell University, where he received his Ph.D. in 1900.