14 Facts About Alonzo Gesner

Alonzo Gesner was an American land surveyor, Indian agent, and politician in the state of Oregon.

Alonzo Gesner was born in Coles County, Illinois, to Reuben A Gesner and his wife Mary V Bailey on March 2,1842.

Alonzo Gesner's father was a native New Yorker who moved to Illinois in 1834 where he married Bailey of Kentucky.

The younger Alonzo Gesner was educated at Willamette University in Salem before a brief teaching career.

Alonzo Gesner taught in Independence in 1865 where he was the first teacher in a new school and the first teacher for that school district.

Alonzo Gesner left teaching after a single year to pursue manual labor and spent a year chopping firewood to enable him to buy a 30-acre farm near his parents' property.

Alonzo Gesner continued in the business until 1908, in the process surveying public lands primarily in western Oregon and some in what became the state of Washington.

Alonzo Gesner won election again and served from 1876 to 1878 as well.

Alonzo Gesner was a member of Oregon's militia for nine years, including nearly three years as a captain.

Alonzo Gesner was elected as the surveyor of the city of Salem in 1889 and served until 1891.

Alonzo Gesner was in both the 1895 and 1897 sessions of the legislature, with the 1897 session fruitless as the Oregon House of Representatives failed to organize.

Alonzo Gesner had three children with his wife Rhoda; Leroy, Rhoda and Stella.

Alonzo Gesner was a member of the Ancient Order of United Workmen, the Masonic Order, and the Sons of the American Revolution.

Alonzo Gesner died in Salem on March 6,1912, at the age of 70 and was buried at Salem Pioneer Cemetery.