 After graduating from the Ohio University in 1895, he studied law at the Harvard Law School in 1895 and 1896 before graduating from the Ohio State University College of Law in 1898.He practiced law in Athens and became the prosecuting attorney of Athens County from 1902 to 1910.He also served as a member and secretary of the board of trustees of Ohio University for 24 years and was secretary of the Republican State Central Committee in 1912.