BIO: John Joseph ROSENSTEEL, Huntingdon County, PA Contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by Dave Wilson Copyright 2007. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/pafiles.htm ************************************************************** __________________________________________________________ McElroy, James Thomas Jr., McElroy's Family Memories, Huntingdon, PA: (Author), 1930, page 180. __________________________________________________________ JOHN JOSEPH ROSENSTEEL Mount Union, Pa. Retired: The years around 1861 and 1865 were without a doubt momentous and stirring and called forth the flower of our youth, they who were the brains and sinew of the land, and to use the words of some great poet, "They fought for the cause they thought was right; some lie beneath an old oak tree." The ranks are thinning, and among them left to revive old memories is that of John Joseph Rosensteel, a respected citizen of Mount Union, Pa. The Rosensteels trace their ancestry back about 200 years. John Rosensteel's grandfather was William H. Rosensteel, married to Margaret Ryland. He was a hatter of Baltimore, Md.; served in the Revolutionary War. The father of John Rosensteel was John Joseph Rosensteel, who died in 1865; the mother was Sarah Moreland (Atkinson) Rosensteel, who died en-route east from Illinois, of cholera, in 1852. John Joseph Rosensteel, the father , was a tanner for thirty years at Waynesboro, Pa., and was of German descent. But to return to the subject of this sketch. John Joseph was born at Waynesboro, Pa., February 14, 1845, and at Roseburg, Perry Co., Pa., he began his schooling. At the age of eighteen years he enlisted in the Civil War; at time of enlistment was a tanner; served eighteen months' enlistment, one for one year and one for six months. Enlisted at Mount Union, July 1, 1863; in Cavalry for six months, Co. E, 20th Cavalry, under Capt. J. T. Roterick; second enlistment in 192nd Infantry, under the late Capt. Thomas S. Johnston, of Huntingdon, Pa.; discharged at Harrisburg, Pa., in 1865. He filled the office of tax collector for nine years in Mount Union, Pa.; served as Councilman at Shirleysburg, Pa. By trade was a tanner for forty-two years. He has done some farming. Was engaged in business as a confectioner and tobacconist at Mount Union, Pa., for eight years; retired at present; has been a member of the Methodist church and Sunday school for seventy-one years. Belongs to G.A.R., Post 292, General Kane, Mount Union, Pa.; two members at present; the others have answered the final roll call. Hon. T.A. Appleby and John J. Rosensteel comprise the membership. They still retain the chapter. Mr. Rosensteel has been Commander for twenty-four years. Has four sisters: Mary Ann, who died at the same time her mother died, of cholera, in 1852; Sara Jane, married to Abraham Wagner, living in Oklahoma, aged eighty-seven years; Isabella Moreland, married to Andrew Mahaffie, who lives in Clearfield, Pa.; Margaret Elizabeth, married to Martin Van Buren, at Bellevue, Ohio. Half-sisters are Martha Gingerich, in Missouri; Carrie Powers, who died at Curwensville, Pa., and Alice Cleffman, who died at Mount Union, Pa. Two full-brothers: William Ryland, of French Grove, Ill.; he died in 1848; Henry Francis died in Huntingdon, W. Va., 1923. Two half- brothers: Jacob Hoffman, who died at Mount Union, Pa.; Joseph Alburtus, living at Clearfield, Pa. John Rosensteel was married to Roaseam Kouch, of Germany Valley; was married in 1871 by the Rev. James Lane, of the Dunkard church, of Hill Valley, Huntingdon County, Pa. Three sons: Joseph Alburtus, married to Luella Chilcote, Hollidaysburg, Pa.; James Harry, Married to Lulu Himes, Mount Union, Pa.; John Calvin, married to Bertha Ripple, Mount Union, Pa.; Lottie and Margaret died in infancy; Ella May died at the age of one year. A well respected man, a veteran, and on Decoration Day and every other day we honor him, and may he live on to remind us of reconstruction days.