Abernethy, Alonzo
soldier, educator, college president, was born April 14, 1836, in Sandusky county, Ohio. He received his early education in the public schools of Bellevue, Ohio. In 1854 he moved with his parents to Illyria, Iowa, in which state he attended the Burlington academy; and subsequently entered the university of Chicago, from which he graduated in 1866. He served as a union soldier during the civil war, enlisting in company F, Ninth Iowa volunteer infantry, serving four years, going out as a private and returning as lieutenant-colonel in command; and was twice wounded. He was in forty battles, including Pea Ridge, Vicksburg, Brandon, and Atlanta. In 1866 he represented his county in the lower house of the Eleventh general assembly. In 1870 he was elected principal of the Des Moines Baptist college, served one year, and has been a member of its board of trustees continuously since. In 1871 he was elected superintendent of public instruction Iowa; was re-elected in 1873, and again in 1875. In 1876 he served as president of the university of Chicago; and since 1881 he has been connected with the Cedar Valley seminary of Osage, Iowa. of