Joseph Alonzo Maynard was born around 1841 in Wyoming County, Pennsylvania, to Truman and Emily Maynard. His father was a farmer who owned $3,000 of real estate and $600 of personal property by 1860. He grew up and attended school in Mehoopany, Pennsylvania, and by 1860, he was working as a farm laborer.

 

He enlisted in the Union army on August 22, 1862, and he mustered in as a private in Company K of the 143^rd Pennsylvania Infantry on September 1. The regiment took part in the Battle of Chancellorsville, the Battle of Gettysburg, the Overland Campaign, and the siege of Petersburg. He was promoted to corporal in February 1864 and to sergeant in February 1865. He was wounded in the side in the Battle of the Wilderness in May 1864, but he eventually recovered and rejoined the regiment.  He mustered out on June 12, 1865.

 

He returned to Mehoopany after the war, and he married Sarah Burgess. Their son Jacob was born around 1872. He earned a living as a farmer, and by 1870, he owned $500 of personal property. He died in Wyoming County on January 10, 1887.

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