 In 1864 he married Auguste Schwensow (1844-1920) of Hustisford, a native of Brandenburg.In 1873 he was elected as Assemblyman for Dodge County's 5th district (the Towns of Herman, Hubbard, Hustisford and Rubicon) as a member of the new Liberal Reform Party, with 495 votes, to 462 for Independent Beder Wood and 219 for Republican C. A. Melcher (Democratic incumbent Satterlee Clark, Jr. was not a candidate).He was assigned to the joint committee on local legislation.