Lindsley was born in
Rushville, New York, and raised on his family's farm in
Yates County. He graduated from
Union College in
Schenectady, New York, in 1849. He went on to study law at
John W. Fowler's Law School at
Ballston Spa, New York, and graduated in 1850. He came to Wisconsin later that year and settled at
Green Bay, where he established a legal practice. He became involved in local politics and was elected to his first two-year term as County Clerk of
Brown County in 1854. He was subsequently elected again in 1860, and reelected in 1862, 1864, and 1866. In April 1865, concurrent with his time as Clerk, he was elected Mayor of Green Bay, serving one year. In 1871, he was elected on the
Democratic Party ticket to represent Brown County in the
Wisconsin State Senate. ==Personal life and family==