Following the Civil War Tough married and settled with his wife at Leavenworth, Kansas and began operating a livery stable. He was appointed a United States Marshall for Kansas on March 23, 1873 and held the position until some time in 1876. During this time period he was also elected to the Kansas House of Representatives from the Leavenworth district. Tough then returned to horse trading operating his business at the Kansas City Stockyards and it was reported that he sold a number of animals that were used during the Boer War.