He was a Justice of the Peace in 1817 and served as first surrogate of Tompkins County 1817–1821. He served as member of the New York State Assembly in 1818.
In the early 19th century, he played important roles in local government, including serving as a Justice of the Peace in 1817 and holding the position of first surrogate for Tompkins County from 1817 to 1821. He also had a presence in state politics, being elected to the New York State Assembly in 1818.