He was active as a campaign speaker for the Republican ticket in 1856, married Matilda McGrain in 1858, and in 1860 was elected to the Indiana House of Representatives as a Republican from a strong Democratic district.
Han var aktiv som kampagnetaler i republikanerne i 1856, giftede sig med Matilda McGrain i 1858, og i 1860 blev han valgt til Repræsentanternes Hus i Indiana som Republikaner fra et stærkt Demokratisk distrikt.