BIO: William H. Longsdorf, Cumberland County, PA

Contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by Judy Bookwalter

Copyright 2009.  All rights reserved.
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http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/cumberland/
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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
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                                PART II.

             HISTORY OF CUMBERLAND COUNTY. PENNSYLVANIA.

                            CHAPTER XXXVIII.

                          BOROUGH OF CARLISLE.

383  BOROUGH OF CARLISLE.

  WILLIAM H. LONGSDORF, M.D., Carlisle, was born in Cumberland County, 
Penn., March 24, 1834.  His grandfather, Henry Longsdorf, was a native 
of Germany, and in an early day came to Cumberland County, where he 
purchased land from William Penn, and located two miles west of 
Mechanicsburg.  Adam, a son of Henry, was born on this land in Silver 
Spring Township, and was occupied as a farmer; served three years as 
sheriff of the county from 1844, and died the year following.  He 
married Mary Senseman, born in Cumberland County, her parents having 
removed thither from Lancaster County, and to this union were born four 
sons and three daughters, William H. being the fourth child and only 
one now living.  Our subject lived on the old homestead until fifteen 
years of age, saving a residence of about five years in Carlisle, 
during his father's term of service as sheriff.  At the age of fifteen 
years he entered Dickinson College, where he pursued a course of study 
for three years; then read medicine with Dr. Dale, and, in 1856, 
graduated from Jefferson Medical College, and in the spring of 1857 
from the Pennsylvania Dental School, at Philadelphia.  He then located 
in the practice of medicine at Bellevue, Neb., where he remained until 
the fall of 1858, when he went to Denver, Col., then a place of four 
cabins and forty men.  Here he prospected and practiced medicine one 
year, and in July, 1857, returned to Cumberland County, where he 
continued practicing until August, 1861, when he was commissioned first 
lieutenant of Company I, Ninth Pennsylvania Cavalry Volunteers.  He was 
subsequently promoted major of the regiment, and discharged January 19, 
1864, with both legs broken at the ankles.  Dr. Longsdorf participated 
in some eighty engagements, among which were the battles of Perryville, 
Ky., Chickamauga, Ga., Shelbyville, and siege of Knoxville, Tenn.  The 
Doctor, on being discharged from the service returned to Cumberland 
County, and after a time resumed his practice, continuing until the 
fall of 1881, when he was elected treasurer of Cumberland County, the 
duties of which he performed for three years, when he again became 
engaged in the practice of his profession, at Carlisle.  April 7, 1857, 
he was married to Miss Lydia R. Haverstick, a native of Cumberland 
County, daughter of Benjamin and Lydia (Mylin) Harverstick, old 
settlers of that county, now residents of Mechanicsburg.  To Dr. 
Longsdorf and wife have been born two sons and four daughters:  Harold 
H., born in Nebraska, a graduate of Dickinson College, also of the 
College of Physicians and Surgeons, of Baltimore, Md., now practicing 
medicine at Centerville; John E., deceased at the age of twenty-one 
years; Zatae S., Hilda, Jessica, W. D., and Persis - the last five 
reside with their parents.  Zatae and Hilda are attending Dickinson 
College, they being among the first female students admitted to the 
institution, and Zatae being the first female student to contend for 
the Pearson Oratorical Prize and took the first prize, the parents are 
members of the Second Presbyterian Church.  Dr. Longsdorf is a Mason, 
and has passed all the chairs in the Blue Lodge, Chapter and Commandery 
of Carlisle.  He ranks among the leading physicians and surgeons of 
Cumberland County, and is an esteemed and respected citizen.  He is 
among the original members of the Cumberland County Medical Society.