When Doc no longer practiced medicine and considered himself fully retired, he became an involved, prominent and respected citizen of the town of Ridgefield. 

In 1870, he was elected to one term in the Connecticut State Legislature. 

In 1871, he became the first President of the Ridgefield Savings Bank (now the Fairfield County Bank where his photo still hangs in the lobby of the main office), a position he would hold in two separate terms for ten of the next fifteen years. 

He was the first treasurer of the Ridgefield Library (founded in 1871) and involved in the Land Improvement Association. 

He also played flute duets with Walter Avery both in Ridgefield and on Long Island at Mr. Avery’s home.  Mr. Avery was a former Knickerbocker teammate and a distant cousin of Cornelia’s.