Civil War Veterans Buried In Washington State - Alonzo Kingsbury

4^th IOWA VOLUNTEER CAVLRY
Organized: 11/61 Camp Harlan Mt. Pleasant, IA
Mustered In: 11/23/61 Camp Harlan Mt. Pleasant, IA
Mustered Out: 8/10/65 Atlanta, GA

REGIMENTAL HISTORY:

The 4^th, a three year western theater regiment was mustered into Federal service in November, 1861. It spent the winter at its rendezvous camp located in Mt. Pleasant, IA learning the art of war.
 

In March, 1862 the unit moved to the front in Missouri. That summer it made the extraordinarily hard march from southwestern Missouri through Arkansas to Little Rock and thence to Helena on the Mississippi River. It remained at the latter place throughout the winter.
 

May, 1863 saw the 4^th play a conspicuous part in Union Gen. U.S. Grants’ Vicksburg, MS campaign. From Port Gibson to Jackson it was in the advance while from Jackson to Vicksburg it held the rear guard. It was, until long after Vicksburg was placed under siege, the only regiment of cavalry with that army. As such it was in a state of incessant activity under the daily demand for cavalry services.
 

After the fall of Vicksburg on July 4, 1863 the regiment took part in the second Jackson campaign. Then, until the close of the year it engaged in numerous expeditions and raids throughout Mississippi.
 

1864. February of that year found the 4^th active in the Meridian Campaign. By this time the unit was a veteran regiment being the first from Iowa to reenlist.  Thirty day home furloughs followed.
 

May found the 4^th in a raid in Tennessee in search of the forces of Confed. Gen. Forrest. The disastrous Guntown (1864) expedition came next highlighted by the brilliant Federal victory at Tupelo, MS.
 

On October 22, 1864 the regiment fought the battle of Big Blue near Independence, MO. During this action the Confederates were completely routed. Another victory followed two days later at the Marais des Cygenes River.
 

The following March - 1865 - found the regiment, with others, concentrated at Eastport, MS for the great raid to Selma, AL, Columbus and Macon, GA. After garrison duty near Atlanta and some chasing over George in search of Confederate President Jefferson Davis, the unit was mustered out at Atlanta, GA on August 10/1865.
 

REGIMENTAL LOSSES: 

Officers Killed Or Mortally Wounded: 4; Officers Died Of Disease, Accidents, Etc.:  5; Enlisted Men Killed Or Mortally Wounded:  51; Enlisted Men Died Of Disease, Accidents, Etc.:  194.

SOLDIER:
Residence: Buchanan Co., IA   Age: 17.1 yrs.
Enlisted/Enrolled: 2/29/64   Rank: Pvt.
Mustered In: 2/29/64
Mustered Out: 8/8/65 Atlanta, GA
Highest Rank: Pvt.
Rank At Discharge: Pvt.

PERSONAL/FAMILY HISTORY:
 

NOTE:  The birth - to - death biographical profile which follows was created in September, 2020 during the Corvid-19 medical pandemic. It contains fewer details than many biographies found within this site because the National Archives located in Washington, D.C. were closed. As a result military service, pension and other veteran-related files were not accessible. At a later time it is planned to obtain these documents and add the data contained therein to the narrative.
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 Alonzo D. Kingsbury was born 1/1/47. His place of birth was Valparaiso Porter Co., IN.
 

Parents of Alonzo were Charles W. (b. 4/1/22 Geauga Co., OH - d. 2/25/75 Fairbank Buchanan Co., IA) and Louisa Stocker (nee Cornell b. 2/11/22 Chautauqua, NY - d. 10/19/92 Fairbank Buchanan Co., IA) Kingsbury.
  

As best as can be determined Alonzo was the eldest of eight Kingsbury children. His younger siblings were: Caroline "Carrie" M. (b. 1849), Maria C. (b. 1851) Chester B. (b. 1852), Charles H. (b. 1854), Edwin James (b. 1856 Littleton Buchanan Co., IA), Alvin C. (b. 1860) and Lorenzo W. (b. 1863 IA. All names and dates subject to error.
 

The Kingsbury family was a farm family. As noted, when Alonzo was born they were residing in Valparaiso Porter Co., IN. Three or so years later, in 1850 they were in Porter, Porter Co., IN and as of the U.S. Census of 1860, were in Alton Buchanan Co., IA.
 

In February, 1864 teenaged Alonzo enlisted in the U.S. Army cavalry. His regiment was the 4^th Iowa Volunteer Cavalry. Without access to his military service records all we can say for now about his period of service is that he survived The War and returned to civilian life.
 

Upon his leaving the military, exactly where Alonzo settled is not presently known. Likely, however, it was in Buchanan Co., IA.
 

In 1870 Alonzo was living in or near the Buchanan Co. community of Fairbank on the farm of his married sister Caroline and husband. The following year, still in Buchanan Co., he married.
 

On 1/14/71 Alonzo wed Sarah E. Bessy/Bessey. Sarah was born during 1850 in Wisconsin.
 

The union of Alonzo and Sarah would produce seven children. Five of those seven were living in 1910. The seven were: George Alonzo (b. b. 9/26/72  Edgerton Pipestone Co., MN), Charles J. (b. 5/7/80 Osborne TWP Pipestone Co., MN - d. 10/8/81 Pipestone Co., MN), Frank Delos (b. 9/7/82 Edgerton Pipestone Co., MN), Fred Bailey (b. 2/19/83 MN), Sadie Louise (b. 2/8/84 Vashon Island King Co., WT), Bessie/Bessey S. (b. 11//2/87 Vashon Island King Co., WT) and Fanny A. (b. 7/1892 Is King co., WA). Again, all name spellings and dates of birth are subject to error.
 

After their marriage it appears Alonzo and Sarah settled, for a time, in Littleton Buchanan Co., IA. This is indicated by that location being the birthplace of their first child, George, in 1872. By 9/11/79, however, they had quitted Iowa and removed to Osborne Township Pipestone Co., MN. That was the birthplace of Charles. At the time of Frank's birth, three years later, the Kingsburys were still in Pipestone Co., but then residing in Edgerton.
 

Fred was birthed during February, 1883 in Edgerton, but Sadie, born in December, 1884, came into this world on Vashon Island located in Puget Sound west of Seattle King Co., WT. What had drawn the family to this region of the Pacific Northwest during such a brief window of time is not currently known.
 

Bessie, born in November, 1887 was birthed on Vashon Island, but available documentation is not clear on whether Fanny, born in 1892 was also born on Vashon or nearby Maury Island. Maury was where the Kingsbury family was farming in 1900, 1910 and 1920. 
 

Alonzo died 6/22/29 in his home located in Portage located on Maury Island King Co., WA. At his passing he was 82.5 years of age. Cause of death was noted as being "senility." He was/is buried in the Maury Island Cemetery.
 

At some point earlier in his life Alonzo had applied for and been granted a U.S. Government disability pension based on his days of Civil War soldiering. As of 5/1/20 his monthly stipend was $50. By 8/4/26 it had grown to a tidy $65 per month.
 

On 7/11/29, following Alonzo's death Sarah applied to the U.S. Government to continue receiving at least a portion of her late husband's pension stipend. The request, which covered funds accrued since June, was granted on 12/13/29. The amount of that stipend is currently not known.
 

Maury Island remained Sarah's home following Alonzo's passing. Under her roof in 1930 were adult sons George and Frank both of whom were divorced, Fred, who was single and daughter Bessie/Bessey who was widowed.
 

Mary died in Portage in 1931. The 80 - 81 year old was buried on Maury Island beside Alonzo.

Buried at Maury Island Cemetery