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biography from Portrait & Biographical Album of Mahaska Co., Iowa, 1887
ALONZO N. CHURCH, of Scott Township, was born in Seneca County, Ohio, April 13, 1844 , being a son of Eli and Mary (Woods) Church, the former a native of Ohio, and the latter of Maryland. They were married at Seneca, Ohio, and came to Mahaska County in the fall of 1849, when the subject of this sketch was four years old, settling on section 25 of Scott Township, where they resided until their death, the husband dying in May, 1870, aged sixty-five years, and the wife in April, 1871, at the age of sixty-seven. They were among the earliest settlers in Mahaska County. Father Church was a regular mechanic, and kept up a shop, working at his trade as well as farming. The subject of this sketch remained, on the farm with his father, working in the field and in the shop until 1862, when, the late Rebellion being in progress, he enlisted in the 33d Iowa Infantry, July 18 of that year, and served with that command until it was mustered out at the close of the war, July 17, 1865. He participated in the memorable battles of Helena, Little Rock, Prairie D'Anne, Poison Spring, Camden, Jenkin's Ferry, and was at the siege of Spanish Fort and Mobile, where their regiment was under fire continuously thirteen days and nights, and was also engaged in numerous skirmishes and other unimportant engagements. While on the Camden expedition, he became afflicted with opthalmia, which confined him to the regimental hospital about one month, and kept him from active duty for a period of four months, and from the effects of which he has never recovered. After the war Mr. Church returned to his home in this county, residing in the city of Oskaloosa for seven years. He was married, April 10, 1870, to Miss Susannah Jane Bartlow, a daughter of William and Ursula Bartlow, for biographical sketch of whom see elsewhere in this volume. Mr. and Mrs. Church are the parents of three children: Jesse Cheney Eugene, born Feb. 25, 1871; Clara Estella, Nov. 4, 1872; Daisy Etta, July 26, 1875. Our subject owns a tidy little farm of fifty-four acres in this township which he has well improved. He is a member of the G. A. R., and has been Constable of Scott Township for seven years past, making a most efficient officer.
Portrait & Biographical Album of Mahaska Co., Iowa, 1887
Mahaska County, Iowa Genealogy