Dr. Alonzo Tubbs of Owensville Was Praised By Early Newspapers
By Glen Blesi
Newspaper editors, although not always of his party, were kind to Dr. Alonzo Tubbs of Gasconade County. He must have been a true American statesman, something we might long to see more of in this 21st century election year. Four careers highlighted Tubbs's life—that of Civil War soldier, teacher, physician and politician.
Alonzo Tubbs was born 15 January 1840 in New Albany, Ind., just across the river from Louisville, Ky. He is believed to be the son of Dudley and Mary (Robinson) Tubbs.
He joined the 23rd Infantry Regiment of Indiana, which was organized on 29 July 1861. A few days later, the regiment left for St. Louis, and then was ordered to Paducah, Ky. Battles the regiment was engaged in include the attack on Fort Henry, the Battle of Shiloh, the Siege of Corinth, the Recapture of Iuka, the battles of Port Gibson and Raymond near Vicksburg, Champion’s Hill, the attack and capture of Jackson, the advance on Atlanta and the campaign of the Carolinas. The men were mustered out at Louisville on 23 July 1865. The regiment had started out with 1,050 men, recruited 477 more, had 277 reenlistments and 36 unassigned recruits. They lost 154 by death and 99 by desertion, with 273 unaccounted for.
Tubbs was taken as a prisoner of war in the Vicksburg campaign in May 1863, and was held until February 1865. From prison he went to the General Hospital in Annapolis, Md. He was appointed Major in June 1865.
In 1867 Tubbs came to Missouri and taught school in Gasconade and Osage counties. He began practicing medicine in 1870. He had attended the National University of Arts and Sciences and the American Medical College. He had an allopathic medical practice in St. Louis.
The 1870 Census shows Tubbs living at Benton, in Osage County, Mo. In 1876 he married Sarah Ellen Willard, whose family were pioneers at Canaan in Gasconade County. Sarah was born 27 October 1848, the daughter of John Witt and Mary E. (Neely) Willard . John Witt Willard was a cabinetmaker. By 1880 Alonzo and Sarah were living at Jefferson in Osage County. Clay in Gasconade County was home in 1910 and Canaan in 1920.
The children of Alonzo and Sarah were Oscar Payton, born in 1877; Nora Ophelia, born in 1878; Austin Alonzo, born in 1880; Cora Lucretia (Brenton), born in 1883 and Flora L., born in 1885.
First elected to the legislature in Osage County as a Republican in 1888, Dr. Tubbs served for 12 consecutive years. The Kansas City Journal of 7 March 1898 said he was “intensely patriotic, and for years has tried to secure the enactment of a law to require the display of an American flag from the top of the 10,000 school houses in the state . . .” The Franklin County Tribune of 19 June 1919 recalled that Tubbs had been a candidate for the U.S. Congress against Speaker Champ Clark and was not elected but “we dare say that in all the years that the Republicans have run men against Champ Clark in this district, they have never run a better or abler man than Hon. Alonzo Tubbs. He is honest, upright and American to the core. . .”
The Franklin County Observer of 3 February 1902 reported the results of an election for the selection of delegates to the Missouri Constitutional Convention. The results for votes cast in Washington up to that date, with returns for 40 out of 46 precincts received, were Tubbs with 70 votes and A.V. Lashley with 43 votes. Dr. Tubbs was also the chairman of the Republican central committee in Gasconade County.
As a nominee for Congress in October 1912, Dr. Tubbs addressed Franklin Countians at Kramolowsky's Hall in Union. At one time, it is reported, Tubbs served as mayor of Owensville.
Sarah Ellen Tubbs died 27 September 1918. Alonzo Tubbs died on 27 April 1927 at home in Owensville. His daughter, Cora L. Brenton, had been caring for him at the time. Alonzo and Sarah are buried at Liberty Baptist Church Cemetery at Woollam.