From 1873 to 1878, he was reeve of New Hamburg and served as Warden of Waterloo County in 1878. After losing a by-election in 1878 in the Ontario provincial riding of Waterloo South, he was elected to the House of Commons of Canada in the federal riding of Waterloo South in the 1878 federal election.
He served as reeve of New Hamburg from 1873 to 1878 and acted as Warden of Waterloo County in 1878. Following his loss in a by-election for the Ontario provincial riding of Waterloo South in 1878, he was elected to the House of Commons of Canada in the federal riding of Waterloo South during the 1878 federal election.