Biography

Moved to San Francisco, California in 1850 and engaged in gold mining in Nevada County. He studied law, was admitted to the bar in 1852, was commenced to practice in Nevada City, California and later appointed district attorney. Elected attorney general of California 1854 and later moved to Virginia City, Nevada. In 1860, he was involved in early mining litigations and the development of the Comstock lode, Territorial Council of 1861. Upon the admission of Nevada as a State into the Union he was elected as a Republican to the United States Senate in 1864 and served to 1875. He did not seek reelection but took position as chairman, Committee on Pacific Railroads, Forty-second and Forty-third Congresses. Again he was elected as a Republican to the United States Senate in 1887, reelected two more terms serving till 1905. His last official posts were as chairman, Committee on Mines and Mining, Fiftieth through Fifty Congresses and Committee on Indian Affairs, Fifty-seventh and Fifty-eighth Congresses.