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 started his career with Jacob Hespeler in Preston and later worked at a general merchants firm in Pembroke. He wed Mary Annie Wright in 1868.