Civil War Union officer, historian, and author; Minnesota pioneer, founder and first Mayor of the city of Brownton; lawyer, notary public, agriculturalist, real estate and insurance agent. He was a 1st Lieutenant in Company B, 4th Minnesota Infantry and a Captain in Company F, 50th U. S. Colored Infantry. He authored the "History of the Fourth Regiment, Minnesota," published in 1892.
He came to Minnesota in 1857. In October of that year he lived briefly in New Auburn, a settlement in south central Minnesota which he named after his birthplace - Auburn, New York. He was only 19 years of age. He permanently settled near present day Brownton, Minnesota. The first settlers had come to the area in 1856. His father, Samuel B. Brown, and brother Charles had come from Freeport, Illinois in 1857 to stake his homestead claim. His father then returned to Illinois, leaving Charles behind. Alonzo joined his brother on their father's claim, "batchin' it" in a small board shanty on the open prairie. Samuel returned with his family the following year.
When the Civil War began in 1861, the bachelor brothers enlisted in the 4th Minnesota Volunteer Infantry, never expecting that the Dakota War would break out on their own home front at Brownton and nearby Lake Addie. The settlers had been friendly to the Dakota Indians in the area and would often see them on the prairie or on their forays to hunt in the "Big Woods." However, broken treaties, years of corruption on the part of Indian traders and agents, their wild game disappearing due to hunting by white settlers, a hard winter resulting in starvation, expectations to live like the white man, and late government annuity payments all pushed them over the edge. A council was held by the Dakota and war was declared during the early morning hours of August 18, 1862. All white settlers must go and the Dakota would take back their lands. At Lake Addie, Samuel White and all members of his family were killed, except his son who had left home to enlist with the home guards.
The two brothers were already fighting for the Union and were not at home when the Dakota war broke out. They had both enlisted as Privates in Company B on September 26, 1861 at Glencoe, Minnesota. Alonzo was 23 years of age at the time he enlisted. When the Dakota war broke out back home, their father and the rest of his family moved to St. Paul (1862-1864). Following the war, the family returned to McLeod County.
While the 4th Minnesota regiment was camped near Corinth, Mississippi in June of 1862, Charles became very ill with typhoid fever. Alonzo was constantly by his side to nurse him during his final days, but his brother's life could not be saved. When he died on June 26, 1862, Alonzo took it very hard.
During his service with the 4th Minnesota, Alonzo had been promoted to Corporal and then to Wagonmaster. On November 3, 1863, he was discharged from the 4th Minnesota Infantry when he received a commission and promotion to Full 1st Lieutenant of Company E, 50th U. S. Colored Troops. He was then promoted to Full Captain.
While he was in Montgomery Alabama, he met Bedina Erena Savage and married her on November 18, 1865. It is interesting to note that several of her brothers were in the Confederate Army.
On March 20, 1866, he was mustered out of the 50th Infantry U. S. C. T. He returned home with his bride.
He purchased the Pollack farm from his father and from 1873-1877, his wife taught school in their home. The railroad arrived in western McLeod County in the late 1870's. The city of Brownton was platted on October 15, 1877 and incorporated on February 20, 1886. Located in west-central Minnesota, the city today is 75 miles west of Minneapolis on Highway 212. Alonzo's farm was included in the town site and he named the city after his brother Charles. He also organized the township of Sumter, in memory of Fort Sumter.
When the post office began in 1878, he was the first postmaster. The "Little Red Schoolhouse" was built, as well as a general store, lumber yard, wheat warehouse, two elevators, cobbler shop, drug store, and many new homes during 1878-1879. Over the next several years, the town continued to grow. The family of Alonzo and his wife also grew as they had four children over the years - Katie, Eugene, Alice, and Lola.
Sources:
Brown, Alonzo. History of the Fourth Regiment of Minnesota Infantry Volunteers During the Great Rebellion 1861-1865, The Pioneer Press Company, St. Paul, Minnesota, 1892.
Garrett, Jeanne. Names of parents for family links.
McLeod County, Minnesota. "McLeod County History Book 1978." (c) 1979 McLeod County Historical Society. Printed in U. S. A. by Taylor Publishing Company, Dallas, Texas. Pages 164-165.
Upham, Warren and Harpole, Patricia C., "Minnesota Place Names: A Geographical Encyclopedia", 3rd Ed., (c) 2001 Minnesota Historical Society Press, p. 359.
Upham, Warren. "Collections of the Minnesota Historical Society", Vol. XVII, Minnesota Historical Society, Saint Paul, Minnesota, 1920, p. 317.
He came to Minnesota in 1857. In October of that year he lived briefly in New Auburn, a settlement in south central Minnesota which he named after his birthplace - Auburn, New York. He was only 19 years of age. He permanently settled near present day Brownton, Minnesota. The first settlers had come to the area in 1856. His father, Samuel B. Brown, and brother Charles had come from Freeport, Illinois in 1857 to stake his homestead claim. His father then returned to Illinois, leaving Charles behind. Alonzo joined his brother on their father's claim, "batchin' it" in a small board shanty on the open prairie. Samuel returned with his family the following year.
When the Civil War began in 1861, the bachelor brothers enlisted in the 4th Minnesota Volunteer Infantry, never expecting that the Dakota War would break out on their own home front at Brownton and nearby Lake Addie. The settlers had been friendly to the Dakota Indians in the area and would often see them on the prairie or on their forays to hunt in the "Big Woods." However, broken treaties, years of corruption on the part of Indian traders and agents, their wild game disappearing due to hunting by white settlers, a hard winter resulting in starvation, expectations to live like the white man, and late government annuity payments all pushed them over the edge. A council was held by the Dakota and war was declared during the early morning hours of August 18, 1862. All white settlers must go and the Dakota would take back their lands. At Lake Addie, Samuel White and all members of his family were killed, except his son who had left home to enlist with the home guards.
The two brothers were already fighting for the Union and were not at home when the Dakota war broke out. They had both enlisted as Privates in Company B on September 26, 1861 at Glencoe, Minnesota. Alonzo was 23 years of age at the time he enlisted. When the Dakota war broke out back home, their father and the rest of his family moved to St. Paul (1862-1864). Following the war, the family returned to McLeod County.
While the 4th Minnesota regiment was camped near Corinth, Mississippi in June of 1862, Charles became very ill with typhoid fever. Alonzo was constantly by his side to nurse him during his final days, but his brother's life could not be saved. When he died on June 26, 1862, Alonzo took it very hard.
During his service with the 4th Minnesota, Alonzo had been promoted to Corporal and then to Wagonmaster. On November 3, 1863, he was discharged from the 4th Minnesota Infantry when he received a commission and promotion to Full 1st Lieutenant of Company E, 50th U. S. Colored Troops. He was then promoted to Full Captain.
While he was in Montgomery Alabama, he met Bedina Erena Savage and married her on November 18, 1865. It is interesting to note that several of her brothers were in the Confederate Army.
On March 20, 1866, he was mustered out of the 50th Infantry U. S. C. T. He returned home with his bride.
He purchased the Pollack farm from his father and from 1873-1877, his wife taught school in their home. The railroad arrived in western McLeod County in the late 1870's. The city of Brownton was platted on October 15, 1877 and incorporated on February 20, 1886. Located in west-central Minnesota, the city today is 75 miles west of Minneapolis on Highway 212. Alonzo's farm was included in the town site and he named the city after his brother Charles. He also organized the township of Sumter, in memory of Fort Sumter.
When the post office began in 1878, he was the first postmaster. The "Little Red Schoolhouse" was built, as well as a general store, lumber yard, wheat warehouse, two elevators, cobbler shop, drug store, and many new homes during 1878-1879. Over the next several years, the town continued to grow. The family of Alonzo and his wife also grew as they had four children over the years - Katie, Eugene, Alice, and Lola.
Sources:
Brown, Alonzo. History of the Fourth Regiment of Minnesota Infantry Volunteers During the Great Rebellion 1861-1865, The Pioneer Press Company, St. Paul, Minnesota, 1892.
Garrett, Jeanne. Names of parents for family links.
McLeod County, Minnesota. "McLeod County History Book 1978." (c) 1979 McLeod County Historical Society. Printed in U. S. A. by Taylor Publishing Company, Dallas, Texas. Pages 164-165.
Upham, Warren and Harpole, Patricia C., "Minnesota Place Names: A Geographical Encyclopedia", 3rd Ed., (c) 2001 Minnesota Historical Society Press, p. 359.
Upham, Warren. "Collections of the Minnesota Historical Society", Vol. XVII, Minnesota Historical Society, Saint Paul, Minnesota, 1920, p. 317.
Civil War Union officer, historian, and author; Minnesota pioneer, founder and first Mayor of the city of Brownton; lawyer, notary public, agriculturalist, real estate and insurance agent. He was a 1st Lieutenant in Company B, 4th Minnesota Infantry and a Captain in Company F, 50th U. S. Colored Infantry. He authored the "History of the Fourth Regiment, Minnesota," published in 1892.
He came to Minnesota in 1857. In October of that year he lived briefly in New Auburn, a settlement in south central Minnesota which he named after his birthplace - Auburn, New York. He was only 19 years of age. He permanently settled near present day Brownton, Minnesota. The first settlers had come to the area in 1856. His father, Samuel B. Brown, and brother Charles had come from Freeport, Illinois in 1857 to stake his homestead claim. His father then returned to Illinois, leaving Charles behind. Alonzo joined his brother on their father's claim, "batchin' it" in a small board shanty on the open prairie. Samuel returned with his family the following year.
When the Civil War began in 1861, the bachelor brothers enlisted in the 4th Minnesota Volunteer Infantry, never expecting that the Dakota War would break out on their own home front at Brownton and nearby Lake Addie. The settlers had been friendly to the Dakota Indians in the area and would often see them on the prairie or on their forays to hunt in the "Big Woods." However, broken treaties, years of corruption on the part of Indian traders and agents, their wild game disappearing due to hunting by white settlers, a hard winter resulting in starvation, expectations to live like the white man, and late government annuity payments all pushed them over the edge. A council was held by the Dakota and war was declared during the early morning hours of August 18, 1862. All white settlers must go and the Dakota would take back their lands. At Lake Addie, Samuel White and all members of his family were killed, except his son who had left home to enlist with the home guards.
The two brothers were already fighting for the Union and were not at home when the Dakota war broke out. They had both enlisted as Privates in Company B on September 26, 1861 at Glencoe, Minnesota. Alonzo was 23 years of age at the time he enlisted. When the Dakota war broke out back home, their father and the rest of his family moved to St. Paul (1862-1864). Following the war, the family returned to McLeod County.
While the 4th Minnesota regiment was camped near Corinth, Mississippi in June of 1862, Charles became very ill with typhoid fever. Alonzo was constantly by his side to nurse him during his final days, but his brother's life could not be saved. When he died on June 26, 1862, Alonzo took it very hard.
During his service with the 4th Minnesota, Alonzo had been promoted to Corporal and then to Wagonmaster. On November 3, 1863, he was discharged from the 4th Minnesota Infantry when he received a commission and promotion to Full 1st Lieutenant of Company E, 50th U. S. Colored Troops. He was then promoted to Full Captain.
While he was in Montgomery Alabama, he met Bedina Erena Savage and married her on November 18, 1865. It is interesting to note that several of her brothers were in the Confederate Army.
On March 20, 1866, he was mustered out of the 50th Infantry U. S. C. T. He returned home with his bride.
He purchased the Pollack farm from his father and from 1873-1877, his wife taught school in their home. The railroad arrived in western McLeod County in the late 1870's. The city of Brownton was platted on October 15, 1877 and incorporated on February 20, 1886. Located in west-central Minnesota, the city today is 75 miles west of Minneapolis on Highway 212. Alonzo's farm was included in the town site and he named the city after his brother Charles. He also organized the township of Sumter, in memory of Fort Sumter.
When the post office began in 1878, he was the first postmaster. The "Little Red Schoolhouse" was built, as well as a general store, lumber yard, wheat warehouse, two elevators, cobbler shop, drug store, and many new homes during 1878-1879. Over the next several years, the town continued to grow. The family of Alonzo and his wife also grew as they had four children over the years - Katie, Eugene, Alice, and Lola.
Sources:
Brown, Alonzo. History of the Fourth Regiment of Minnesota Infantry Volunteers During the Great Rebellion 1861-1865, The Pioneer Press Company, St. Paul, Minnesota, 1892.
Garrett, Jeanne. Names of parents for family links.
McLeod County, Minnesota. "McLeod County History Book 1978." (c) 1979 McLeod County Historical Society. Printed in U. S. A. by Taylor Publishing Company, Dallas, Texas. Pages 164-165.
Upham, Warren and Harpole, Patricia C., "Minnesota Place Names: A Geographical Encyclopedia", 3rd Ed., (c) 2001 Minnesota Historical Society Press, p. 359.
Upham, Warren. "Collections of the Minnesota Historical Society", Vol. XVII, Minnesota Historical Society, Saint Paul, Minnesota, 1920, p. 317.
He came to Minnesota in 1857. In October of that year he lived briefly in New Auburn, a settlement in south central Minnesota which he named after his birthplace - Auburn, New York. He was only 19 years of age. He permanently settled near present day Brownton, Minnesota. The first settlers had come to the area in 1856. His father, Samuel B. Brown, and brother Charles had come from Freeport, Illinois in 1857 to stake his homestead claim. His father then returned to Illinois, leaving Charles behind. Alonzo joined his brother on their father's claim, "batchin' it" in a small board shanty on the open prairie. Samuel returned with his family the following year.
When the Civil War began in 1861, the bachelor brothers enlisted in the 4th Minnesota Volunteer Infantry, never expecting that the Dakota War would break out on their own home front at Brownton and nearby Lake Addie. The settlers had been friendly to the Dakota Indians in the area and would often see them on the prairie or on their forays to hunt in the "Big Woods." However, broken treaties, years of corruption on the part of Indian traders and agents, their wild game disappearing due to hunting by white settlers, a hard winter resulting in starvation, expectations to live like the white man, and late government annuity payments all pushed them over the edge. A council was held by the Dakota and war was declared during the early morning hours of August 18, 1862. All white settlers must go and the Dakota would take back their lands. At Lake Addie, Samuel White and all members of his family were killed, except his son who had left home to enlist with the home guards.
The two brothers were already fighting for the Union and were not at home when the Dakota war broke out. They had both enlisted as Privates in Company B on September 26, 1861 at Glencoe, Minnesota. Alonzo was 23 years of age at the time he enlisted. When the Dakota war broke out back home, their father and the rest of his family moved to St. Paul (1862-1864). Following the war, the family returned to McLeod County.
While the 4th Minnesota regiment was camped near Corinth, Mississippi in June of 1862, Charles became very ill with typhoid fever. Alonzo was constantly by his side to nurse him during his final days, but his brother's life could not be saved. When he died on June 26, 1862, Alonzo took it very hard.
During his service with the 4th Minnesota, Alonzo had been promoted to Corporal and then to Wagonmaster. On November 3, 1863, he was discharged from the 4th Minnesota Infantry when he received a commission and promotion to Full 1st Lieutenant of Company E, 50th U. S. Colored Troops. He was then promoted to Full Captain.
While he was in Montgomery Alabama, he met Bedina Erena Savage and married her on November 18, 1865. It is interesting to note that several of her brothers were in the Confederate Army.
On March 20, 1866, he was mustered out of the 50th Infantry U. S. C. T. He returned home with his bride.
He purchased the Pollack farm from his father and from 1873-1877, his wife taught school in their home. The railroad arrived in western McLeod County in the late 1870's. The city of Brownton was platted on October 15, 1877 and incorporated on February 20, 1886. Located in west-central Minnesota, the city today is 75 miles west of Minneapolis on Highway 212. Alonzo's farm was included in the town site and he named the city after his brother Charles. He also organized the township of Sumter, in memory of Fort Sumter.
When the post office began in 1878, he was the first postmaster. The "Little Red Schoolhouse" was built, as well as a general store, lumber yard, wheat warehouse, two elevators, cobbler shop, drug store, and many new homes during 1878-1879. Over the next several years, the town continued to grow. The family of Alonzo and his wife also grew as they had four children over the years - Katie, Eugene, Alice, and Lola.
Sources:
Brown, Alonzo. History of the Fourth Regiment of Minnesota Infantry Volunteers During the Great Rebellion 1861-1865, The Pioneer Press Company, St. Paul, Minnesota, 1892.
Garrett, Jeanne. Names of parents for family links.
McLeod County, Minnesota. "McLeod County History Book 1978." (c) 1979 McLeod County Historical Society. Printed in U. S. A. by Taylor Publishing Company, Dallas, Texas. Pages 164-165.
Upham, Warren and Harpole, Patricia C., "Minnesota Place Names: A Geographical Encyclopedia", 3rd Ed., (c) 2001 Minnesota Historical Society Press, p. 359.
Upham, Warren. "Collections of the Minnesota Historical Society", Vol. XVII, Minnesota Historical Society, Saint Paul, Minnesota, 1920, p. 317.
Family Members
Siblings
Sponsored by Ancestry
Advertisement
Records on Ancestry
Advertisement
