he was born in avery, ohio in 1861. he attended high school in columbus, ohio and then attended ohio state university for his college degree. he then attended university of michigan school of dentistry and obtained his degree in 1893. he then became the professor of operative faculty soon after his graduation from the school. he is known to be one of the first people to have used nitrous oxide as an anesthetic for the removal of teeth. he attended angle school of orthodontia and graduated in 1905. he moved to washington, d.c. after and became the first person to specialize in orthodontics in that city.