He was admitted to the Missouri bar in 1901 and began practice in Maryville; he moved shortly thereafter to Okmulgee,  where he became city attorney. He returned to Missouri in 1905 to marry Cora McComb, whom he had met at Chillicothe.
In 1901, he joined the Missouri bar and began his practice in Maryville; shortly thereafter, he moved to Okmulgee, where he became city attorney. In 1905, he returned to Missouri to marry Cora McComb, whom he had met at Chillicothe.