BIO: Alfred C. Koser, Cumberland County, PA Contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by Judy Bookwalter Copyright 2009. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/cumberland/ ______________________________________________________________________ History of Cumberland and Adams Counties, Pennsylvania. Containing History of the Counties, Their Townships, Towns, Villages, Schools, Churches, Industries, Etc.; Portraits of Early Settlers and Prominent Men; Biographies; History of Pennsylvania; Statistical and Miscellaneous Matter, Etc., Etc. Illustrated. Chicago: Warner, Beers & Co., 1886. http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/cumberland/beers/beers.htm ______________________________________________________________________ PART II. HISTORY OF CUMBERLAND COUNTY. PENNSYLVANIA. CHAPTER XXXIX. BOROUGH OF MECHANICSBURG. 421 BOROUGH OF MECHANICSBURG. ALFRED C. KOSER, proprietor of "Koser's City Market," near corner Main and Market Square, Mechanicsburg, a representative of one of the oldest families of Cumberland County, was born on Main Street, Mechanicsburg, Penn., May 12, 1847, son of John and Sarah (Rockafellow) Koser, John Koser, born in Mechanicsburg, Penn., was a butcher by trade. At the breaking out of the Rebellion, he was one of the first to shoulder a musket in the defense of his country, enlisting in the spring of 1861, in Capt. Dorsheimer's company of infantry for three months; returned home and re-enlisted, as sergeant of Company C, Ninth Pennsylvania Cavalry, and was among the killed or missing at the battle of Murfreesboro, Tenn., in the summer of 1863. He and his wife had four children. Alfred C., the only son and eldest in the family, was but fifteen when his father was killed, but at that early age he enlisted in Company A, Twentieth Pennsylvania Cavalry. He weighed 160 pounds and claimed he was eighteen, passed and was promoted to corporal, thence to commissary-sergeant, and remained with this company six months; re-enlisting, he served to the close of the war. War reports as follows: "Private Company C, Twentieth Pennsylvania Cavalry, One Hundred and Eighty-first Pennsylvania Volunteers; enlisted second lieutenant, January 28, 1864; enlisted at the age of fifteen years, transferred to Company A, promoted to corporal and commissary- sergeant. Services - Assigned to First Brigade, Second Division, Eighth Corps, March 20, 1864; engagement at Newmarket, Va., May 15; Harrisonburg, June 4; Piedmont, June 5; Buffalo Gap, June 6; Staunton, June 10; Midway, June 11; Rose Mills, June 12; Cedar Creek, June 12; Lexington, June 13; New Glasgow, June 14; Otter Creek, June 16; Quaker Church, June 17; Lynchburg, June 18 and 19; Liberty, June 20; Salem, June 21. Detailed to service in charge of orderlies at Harper's Ferry, July 3 and 18; Ashby's Gap, July 19 and 21; Winchester, July 20; Kernstown, Jul 23 and 24; Martinsburg, July 25 and 26. Second Brigade, First Cavalry Division - August 7; Berryville Pike, August 10; Fisher's Hill, August 15; Front Royal, August 16; Berryville, August 21, September 3 and 4; Smithfield, August 25, 26 and 29; Winchester, September 19; Fisher's Hill, September 22; Luray Valley, September 24; Brown Gap, September 26; Waynesboro, October 2; Tom's Brook, October 8 and 9; Cedar Creek, October 19, Nineveh, November 12; Roods Hill, November 22; Somerset, December 21; Gordonsville, December 23; Jack's Shop, December 23; Waynesboro, February 28, 1865; White House, March 27; Stony Creek, March 30; Dinwiddie Court House, March 31; Hatcher's Run, March 31; Five Forks, April 1; South Side Railroad, April 2 and 3; White Oak Road, April 4 and 5; Harper's Farm, April 6; Amelia Court House, April 6; Sailors Creek, April 7; Appomattox Station, April 8; Appomattox Court House, April 9. Mustered out, June 10, 1865. Had two horses shot under him - one killed at the battle of Lynchburg, Va., and the other had most of his neck shot away at Five Forks, Va." At the close of the war, July 1, 1865, he returned home and established his present business. Mr. Koser was married at Mechanicsburg, in December, 1868, to Miss Annie M. Markley, who was born at Shiremanstown, this county, daughter of Henry and Susan (Raudenbaugh) Markley, natives, respectively, of Cumberland and Lancaster Counties, Penn. Mr. and Mrs. Koser have one daughter: Grace Ella, born in Mechanicsburg, October 11, 1869, now attending school at Mechanicsburg. Mrs. Koser is a member of the Church of God. Our subject is a junior vice-commander of Col. H. I. Zinn Post, No. 415, G. A. R., Mechanicsburg. He has held various local offices of trust; was elected city councilman by the people of his ward for three years. In politics he is a Republican. His people are of German descent.