1885 – He graduated from Indiana Asbury University (now DePauw University), with a Ph.D. degree.

1887 – Admitted to the Indiana bar and practiced law in Indianapolis.  

         – He was a member of Delta Kappa Epsilon fraternity.

1899-1911 – He was elected to the U.S. Senate as a Republican.

1912 – He supported Theodore Roosevelt’s progressive views and was the keynote speaker at the new Progressive Party convention which nominated Roosevelt for U.S. President.

1916-1919 – He was a member and secretary of the American Historical Association (AHA). His four-volume set The Life of John Marshall, published.

1922 – When the Progressive party disintegrated, he returned to the Republicans with his political future in tatters; he eventually ran one more unsuccessful race for Senate in the primary against Harry S. New, but would never again hold office.