 From 1872 to 1874, he was a reporter for Alexander St. Clair-Abrams at the "Daily Herald" after which he returned to law.He served on the city council off and on from then until 1883 when he was elected mayor, after which he served over ten years as city attorney, then served as mayor a second time during the Panic of 1893.He left the city in 1901 and for 16 years served as the grand secretary of the Sovereign Grand Lodge, Independent Order of Odd Fellows.