Alonzo B. Stevenson

Alonzo B. Stevenson was born in 1816 or 1820 in Ontario County, New York, or in Vermont.

Alonzo moved west, eventually settling in western Michigan. He was probably living in Spring Lake, Ottawa County when he married New York or Canadian native Mrs. Mary Williamson (b. 1811) on August 8, 1853, Spring Lake.

By 1860 he was working as a carpenter and living in Spring Lake with his wife Mary and two of her children: Henry (b. 1839) and Mary (b. 1842). Alonzo may have been living in Grand Haven, Ottawa County in the summer of 1861 when he moved to Illinois, but after some four months moved to Muskegon County.

Alonzo stood 5’9” with gray eyes, gray hair and a light complexion and was a 44-year-old farmer possibly living in Dalton, Muskegon County when he enlisted in Company H on January 16, 1864, at Grand Rapids for 3 years, crediting Dalton, and was mustered on January 19. (Company H, formerly the “Muskegon Rangers,” was made up largely of men from the vicinity of Muskegon and Newaygo counties.) He joined the Regiment on February 17 at Camp Bullock, Virginia, and was absent sick from March through May. He was still absent sick when he was transferred to Company A, Fifth Michigan infantry upon consolidation of the Third and Fifth Michigan Regiments on June 10, 1864, and he remained absent sick until he entered Harper hospital in Detroit on May 2, 1865. He was mustered out June 16 at Detroit.

Alonzo may also have served in Company G, Fifty-sixth Illinois infantry.

Alonzo eventually returned to western Michigan. His wife reportedly sued for divorce sometime after 1866, but it is not known what became of the suit. In fact, by 1870 Alonzo was working as a farm laborer and living with his wife in Pleasanton, Manistee County; also living with them were Henry Williamson (b. 1832) and Harry Williamson (b. 1864). By 1880 Alonzo was listed as “retired’ and living with his wife Mary in Vermontville, Eaton County; also living with them was Mary’s son Henry Williamson and two of his children.

Alonzo received a pension dated 1876.

According to one source he died on December 14, 1880 and was buried in Riverside cemetery, Hastings, Barry County.

His widow also applied for a pension (no. 280919) but the certificate was never granted.