Life History

Notes

• The child listed in most sources and genealogies as Alonzo was enumerated in 1857 under the name Aloys.
  
  1857 Minnesota State Census, Carver County, 19 October, Township 116, Hse #324, Fam #325
  Gay, Volney 40 M b Ohio Farmer [b abt 1817]
  Gay, Laura 24 F b Ohio [b abt 1833]
  Gay, Oliver 15 M b Illinois [b abt 1842]
  Gay, Losiney 13 F b Illinois [b abt 1844]
  Gay, George 11 M b Illinois [b abt 1846]
  Gay, Sylivester [sic] 8 M b Illinois [b abt 1849]
  Gay, Orrin 4 M b Minnesota [b abt 1853]
  Gay, Alois 3 M b Minnesota [b abt 1854]
  Gay, Francis 2 months M b Minnesota [b abt 1856]
  
  1860 Federal Census, Carver County, Minnesota, 18 July, Camden, PO Young America, page 104-105 (scan 396-397), Hse #1015, Fam #877
  Volney Gay 42 F Carpenter $0 Real Estate declared $150 Personal born Ohio [b abt 1818]
  Laura Gay 36 M born Ohio [b abt 1824]
  Alfield [Oliver] Gay 18 M born Illinois [b abt 1842]
  Louise Anna Gay 16 M born Illinois [b abt 1844]
  George Gay 14 F born Illinois [b abt 1846]
  Ivenhal [Ivanhoe] Gay 12 M born Illinois [b abt 1848]
  - page 105 -
  Orin Gay 8 M born Minnesota [b abt 1852]
  Alonzo Gay 6 M born Minnesota [b abt 1854]
  Carolina Gay 4 M born Minnesota [b abt 1856]
  Asa Gay 2 M born Minnesota [b abt 1858]
  
  1865 Minnesota State Census, McLeod County, 1 June, Penn Township, Hse/Fam #21
  Volney Gay M [no ages or birth states rptd in this census]
  Lucy Gay F
  Sylvester Gay M
  Orrin Gay M
  Alonzo Gay 11 M
  Carolin Gay F
  Asa Gay M
  
  1870 Federal Census, Bates County, Missouri, 27 July, PO Butler, Grand River, page 7, Hse/Fam #45
  Gay, Volney 45 M W Farmer $0 declared Real Estate $0 declared Personal born Ohio [b abt 1825]
  Gay, Nancy 45 F W Home b Ohio Cannot read [b abt 1825]
  Gay, Ivanhoe 22  M W Farmer born Illinois [b abt 1848]
  Gay, Orin 17 M W Farmer born Illinois [b abt 1853]
  Gay, Alfred [Alonzo] 15 M W Farmer born Illinois Attended School, Idiot [b abt Jan 1855]
  Gay, Asa 8 M W Farmer born Illinois [b abt 1862]
  Gay, William 6 M W born Illinois [b abt 1864]
  Gay, Elsey 4 F W home born Illinois [b abt 1866]
  
  1875 Minnesota State Census, Meeker County, 1 May 1875, Swan Lake, page 983, Fam #142
  Gay, Volney 60 M W born Ohio Parents both b Maine [b abt 1815]
  Gay, Alonzo 20 M W born Minn Ohio Ohio [b abt 1855]
  Gay, Caroline 18 F W born Minn Ohio Ohio [b abt 1857]
  Gay, Wm 12 M W Minn Ohio Ohio [b abt Jan 1863]
  Gay, Ann 9 F W Minn Ohio Ohio [b abt 1866]
  
  1880 Federal Census, Meeker County, Minnesota, 12 June, Ladys Spring District 3, Enumeration District 144, page 10, Hse/Fam #53
  Gay, Volney W M 64 Head Farmer Ohio Scotland Scotland [b abt 1826]
  Gay, Jane  W F 43 Wife Keeping House Has Consumption KY OH KY [abt 1837]
  Gay, Alonzo  W M 25 Son Works on Farm idiotic Minnesota Ohio Kentucky [b abt 1855]
  Gay, Willie  W M 18 Son Works on Farm Minnesota Ohio Kentucky [b abt 1862]
  Gay [Sellards], Armstrong  W M 15 Son Works on Farm KY OH KY [b abt 1865]
  Gay [Sellards], Jasper W M 12 Son Works on Farm Minn OH KY [b abt 1868]
  
  Alonzo is reported here as "Idiotic."  He and his brother William are still in his father's household, after their mother died in 1873.  Their stepmother's two sons named Sellards are also in the home, but reported with the Gay last name here.
  
  Alonzo died at the state hosopital and was buried in their cemetery.  The folliwng appears to be for the same Alonzo Gay.  But this is the first indication we have had that he was born in Morrison County.  All family census records we have seen are for Meeker, Carver and McLeod County.  But there seems little doubt that this is the correct Alonzo (spelled Alonbza on the grave).
  
  Alonza Gay
  Birth 1855
  Death May 29, 1899
  Note: Home County: Morrison; Hosp.#782
  Burial Fergus Falls State Hospital Cemetery, Fergus Falls, Otter Tail County, Minnesota
  Plot: Section-Grave Number-Cemetery: 15-6-1 (Burial Number: 202)
  Created by SJF Mar 21, 2014
  --  Find A Grave Memorial #126659825, http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GSln=Gay&GSiman=1&GScid=2316448&GRid=126659825&

Sources

• 1. 1850 Federal Census, Schuyler County, Illinois
  • 18 July, Camden, PO Young America, page 104-105 (scan 396-397), Hse #1015, Fam #877
• 2. 1865 Minnesota State Census, McLeod County
  • 1 June, Penn Township, Hse/Fam #21
• 3. 1857 Minnesota State Census, Carver County
  • 19 October, Township 116, Hse #324, Fam #325
• 4. 1880 Federal Census, Meeker County, Minnesota
  • 12 June, Ladys Spring District 3, Enumeraton District 144, page 10, Hse/Fam #53
• 5. 1885 Minnesota State Census, Meeker County
  • 2 June, Dassel, page 15, Hse/Fam #120
• 6. Find a Grave Memorial Registry
• 7. 1875 Minnesota State Census, Meeker County
  • 1 May 1875, Swan Lake, page 983, Fam #142
• 8. 1870 Federal Census, Bates County, Missouri
  • 27 July, PO Butler, Grand River, page 7, Hse/Fam #45