He was editor of the Helena World and a state representative. He enlisted as in the militia and was appointed to Governor Baxter's staff as military secretary and promoted to colonel after the dust settled. There were a couple of articles in the Gazette that read like a campaign ad. In 1882/3 he moves to Los Angeles " because of his wife's health ". He became a land developer. In 1902 he was selling lots in a gated community for $10,000 a lot.