 He graduated from Muhlenberg College in Allentown, Pennsylvania where he was a member of the Chi Phi Fraternity.He studied law, was admitted to the bar in 1876 and commenced practice in Allentown.He served as city solicitor of Allentown in 1877, as district attorney for Lehigh County, Pennsylvania, from 1887 to 1890, and chairman of the Democratic county committee of Lehigh County from 1895 to 1899.