He returned to Nashville, in 1885 and continued the practice of law. He served as chairman of the Democratic executive committee of Davidson County, Tennessee from 1886 to 1894. He served as member of the Nashville City Council from 1900 to 1904. He then served as president of the Tennessee State bar association in 1901 and 1902. He served as general insurance counsel of Tennessee from 1903 to 1907. He was State warden of the Tennessee department of game, fish, and forestry from 1903 to 1913. He served as general counsel of the National Association of Game and Fish Commissioners of the United States from 1905 to 1912, when he was elected president of the Association. He was Middle Tennessee counsel for the St. Louis & San Francisco Railroad from 1907 to 1911.