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John Wesley Alstork

1852 – 1920

African American bishop, community organizer

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About John Wesley Alstork

Lived 1852 – 1920 (aged 67). John Wesley Alstork was an American preacher and teacher.

John Wesley Alstork (September 1, 1852 – July 23, 1920) was an American religious leader and African-American community organizer. He was a preacher and bishop in the African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church (A.M.E. Zion Church) and is considered one of the most successful bishops of his church, in part due to his skills at organizing national conferences. He also was a trustee at several schools for African-Americans, and a businessman. He lived in Montgomery, Alabama.

Early life John Wesley Alstork was born on September 1, 1852, in Talladega, Alabama. Early in his life he attended the Longwood Institute, followed by study at Talladega College. Alstork founded the Greenville High School in Greenville, Alabama. In 1898, he founded Lomax Hannon College (first named as A.M.E. Zion Theological Institute; now named Lomax-Hannon Junior College in Greenville).

His last speech drew 10,000 people in the audience. Alstork died on July 23, 1920, in Searcy, Alabama, and is buried in Oak Hill Cemetery (now Oakwood Cemetery) in Montgomery, Alabama. His funeral procession was 15 blocks long. In 1953, Bishop William Jacob Walls paid public tribute to Alstork and asked his followers to invest in improvements for Lomax Hannon College which was described as "the soul of the late Bishop".

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Important facts

Birth century
Occupation
Nationality
Education
Talladega College
Positions held
Bishop
Also known as
J. W. Alstork

People in John Wesley Alstork's life

Named in this biography and alive at the same time

Contemporaries

People whose lives overlapped John Wesley Alstork's

Frequently asked questions

Who was John Wesley Alstork?

African American bishop, community organizer (1852–1920)

When was John Wesley Alstork born?

John Wesley Alstork was born on 1 September 1852 in Talladega.

When did John Wesley Alstork die?

John Wesley Alstork died on 23 July 1920 in Montgomery.

What was John Wesley Alstork's occupation?

John Wesley Alstork was a preacher and teacher.

What nationality was John Wesley Alstork?

John Wesley Alstork was American.

Sources & further reading

· Wikipedia: John Wesley Alstork

· Wikidata: Q112657902

· DBpedia: John Wesley Alstork

Cite this page

APA: Biography.guide. (2026). John Wesley Alstork. https://biography.guide/john-wesley-alstork/

MLA: "John Wesley Alstork." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/john-wesley-alstork/.

Chicago: "John Wesley Alstork." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/john-wesley-alstork/.

Data last updated: 2026-09-20 · Spot an error? Report a correction.

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