Born in Linn county, Iowa, March 27, 1842, his parents being James Newton and Lydia (Hobson) Barkley. Mr. Barkley derived his primary education chiefly through contact with nature and from the Bible, interpreted at his mother's knee, and illustrated by applications to the moral questions which arise in the progress of a young life. The school house at Ridgeport was seven miles from his home and thus it was impossible for him to pursue his studies there. The winter months were largely spent in the woods, making rails and posts, which he hauled with ox teams to the farm. In 1861, however, he divided his time between chopping cord wood, farming and attending school at Boonesboro. As he went into the fields, Alonzo Barkley would carry with him a principle in grammar or a problem in mathematics for study along the way. He mastered everything thoroughly and, while he practically had none of the training of the schoolroom, he began to show a knowledge superior to that of many whose opportunities were far greater than his own. He was but twenty years of age when he enlisted in August, 1862, as a member of Company D, Thirty-second Iowa Volunteer Infantry. The regiment was organized at Camp Franklin, Dubuque, and a detachment of four companies-A, F, G and D-commanded by Major G. A. Eberhart, went to Cape Girardeau and spent the fall, winter and succeeding spring months in southern Missouri, building fortifications for the Cape and at Bloomfield. He was discharged from the service in 1864. Life's experiences were teaching Mr. Barkley the value of education and, anxious to advance along that line, he entered Cornell College at Mount Vernon, Iowa. Returning home he engaged in herding cattle. In the fall of that year he was made the republican nominee for county recorder, to which office he was chosen at the regular election in November, entering upon the duties of the position in January, 1867. He was reelected in 1868 and while acting in that capacity he compiled a set of abstract books covering all lands in Boone county. On his retirement from the position of recorder he entered the real-estate and abstract business, becoming agent for the Iowa Railroad Land Company and the Blair Town Lot & Land Company. He was connected with telephone development, his initial step in this direction being made in 1889, later constructing lines from Boone to Ames, Madrid, Ogden and Dayton. In 1891 he organized the Boone County Telephone Company and established a telephone exchange. He remained at the head of the business until 1892, when he sold out to the Bell system. In the meantime he had become active in financial circles as one of the promoters and organizers of the Boone County Bank in February, 1884. He was elected its first vice president. With the withdrawal of his associate officers after five years, the bank was reorganized with Mr. Barkley as president, directing its affairs successfully until the roth of February, 1911, when he sold his stock and retired. Under his guidance the progressive policy of the bank was tempered by a safe conservatism, and the success of the institution was built upon the enterprise, sound judgment and honorable methods of the president. It is almost impossible for a man who has been as active in business as Mr. Barkley not to be closely associated with affairs of public moment. He becomes a vital force in the community and his influence has much to do with shaping public policy. Thus it has been with Mr. Barkley, who has twice represented his ward in the city council and who in 1899 was chosen to represent his district in the twenty-eighth general assembly. After serving for two years, indorsement of his first term came in his reelection. During the first term he was a member of the library committee and assisted in preparing the bill creating the Iowa library commission, which became a law and has proven to be of much worth by advancing library development in this state. During the second term he was a member of the committee on appropriations, also on the ways and means committee and other important committees and was advanced to the chairmanship of the library committee. His bill became a law consolidating the traveling library with the Iowa library commission and the appropriation for the former was largely increased. He has closely studied questions of public moment, and his indorsement of any measure arises from the fact that he has firm belief in its effectiveness as a factor for general good. Mr. Barkley was united in marriage November 6, 1866, in Boone county to Miss Henrietta Trickey, who died in 1889. About two years later, on the 28th of July, 1891, he was married in Ainsworth, Nebraska, to Miss Flora Spencer. Mr. Barkley has always been deeply interested in the cause of education and served for a number of years as one of the trustees of Cornell College. He is prominent in Masonic circles, holding membership in the lodge, chapter and commandery and the Mystic Shrine, and for several terms he was master of the lodge.

Representative of one of the pioneer families of the state and was born in Linn county, Iowa, March 27, 1842, his parents being James Newton and Lydia (Hobson) Barkley. Mr. Barkley derived his primary education chiefly through contact with nature and from the Bible, interpreted at his mother's knee, and illustrated by applications to the moral questions which arise in the progress of a young life. The school house at Ridgeport was seven miles from his home and thus it was impossible for him to pursue his studies there. The winter months were largely spent in the woods, making rails and posts, which he hauled with ox teams to the farm. In 1861, however, he divided his time between chopping cord wood, farming and attending school at Boonesboro. As he went into the fields Alonzo Barkley would carry with him a principle in grammar or a problem in mathematics for study along the way. He mastered everything thoroughly and, while he practically had none of the training of the schoolroom, he began to show a knowledge superior to that of many whose opportunities were far greater than his own. He was but twenty years of age when he enlisted in August, 1862, as a member of Company D, Thirty-second Iowa Volunteer Infantry. The regiment was organized at Camp Franklin, Dubuque, and a detachment of four companies-A, F, G and D-commanded by Major G. A. Eberhart, went to Cape Girardeau and spent the fall, winter and succeeding spring months in southern Missouri, building fortifications for the Cape and at Bloomfield. He was discharged from the service in 1864. Life's experiences were teaching Mr. Barkley the value of education and, anxious to advance along that line, he entered Cornell College at Mount Vernon, Iowa. Returning home he engaged in herding cattle. In the fall of that year he was made the republican nominee for county recorder, to which office he was chosen at the regular election in November, entering upon the duties of the position in January, 1867. He was reelected in 1868 and while acting in that capacity he compiled a set of abstract books covering all lands in Boone county. On his retirement from the position of recorder he entered the real-estate and abstract business, becoming agent for the Iowa Railroad Land Company and the Blair Town Lot & Land Company. He was connected with telephone development, his initial step in this direction being made in 1889, later constructing lines from Boone to Ames, Madrid, Ogden and Dayton. In 1891 he organized the Boone County Telephone Company and established a telephone exchange. He remained at the head of the business until 1892, when he sold out to the Bell system. In the meantime he had become active in financial circles as one of the promoters and organizers of the Boone County Bank in February, 1884. He was elected its first vice president. With the withdrawal of his associate officers after five years, the bank was reorganized with Mr. Barkley as president, directing its affairs successfully until the roth of February, 1911, when he sold his stock and retired. Under his guidance the progressive policy of the bank was tempered by a safe conservatism, and the success of the institution was built upon the enterprise, sound judgment and honorable methods of the president. It is almost impossible for a man who has been as active in business as Mr. Barkley not to be closely associated with affairs of public moment. He becomes a vital force in the community and his influence has much to do with shaping public policy. Thus it has been with Mr. Barkley, who has twice represented his ward in the city council and who in 1899 was chosen to represent his district in the twenty-eighth general assembly. After serving for two years, indorsement of his first term came in his reelection. During the first term he was a member of the library committee and assisted in preparing the bill creating the Iowa library commission, which became a law and has proven to be of much worth by advancing library development in this state. During the second term he was a member of the committee on appropriations, also on the ways and means committee and other important committees and was advanced to the chairmanship of the library committee. His bill became a law consolidating the traveling library with the Iowa library commission and the appropriation for the former was largely increased. He has closely studied questions of public moment, and his indorsement of any measure arises from the fact that he has firm belief in its effectiveness as a factor for general good. Mr. Barkley was united in marriage November 6, 1866, in Boone county to Miss Henrietta Trickey, who died in 1889. About two years later, on the 28th of July, 1891, he was married in Ainsworth, Nebraska, to Miss Flora Spencer. Mr. Barkley has always been deeply interested in the cause of education and served for a number of years as one of the trustees of Cornell College. He is prominent in Masonic circles, holding membership in the lodge, chapter and commandery and the Mystic Shrine, and for several terms he was master of the lodge.