 From 1860 on, he engaged in banking, and from 1881 to 1890 was President of the First National Bank of Salamanca.He entered politics as a Democrat, became a War Democrat at the beginning of the American Civil War, and remained a Republican thereafter.He was Supervisor of the Town of Randolph in 1851, 1853, 1856 to 1859, and 1862; a member of the New York State Assembly (Cattaraugus Co., 2nd D.) in 1863 and 1864; and a member of the New York State Senate (32nd D.) in 1874 and 1875.