FRANK HOLSINGER, farmer and horticulturist Section 32, Town 11, Range 25, P. O. Rosedale, was born in Bedford County, Penn., April 3, 1836, son of George and Susan Holsinger He was educated in the common school and in Mount Morris Seminary, attending school until nineteen years of age then went to Ogle County, Ill., and engaged in railroad service as station agent at Haldane was also Postmaster at that place until March, 1857, when he emigrated to Kansas, and engaged in farming near Clinton, Douglas County, for two years, and was a delegate to the Grasshopper Convention in 1857, which nominated Marcus J. Parrott Delegate to Congress. He returned to Bedford County, Penn., in 1859; taught school two years, then enlisted April 14, 1861, with the Marietta, Ohio, Blues. Not being mustered in, he was discharged to go into a Pennsylvania regiment, and on May 8, 1861, enlisted in Company I, Eighth Pennsylvania Reserve Corps. Was in many of the heaviest engagements of the war; was in that of Dranesville, Mechanicsville, Peach Orchard, Fair Oaks, Charles City, Cross Roads and Malvern Hill, under McClellan; Aqua Creek, Rappahannock, Manassas Junction, under Gen. Pope South Mountain and Antietam in Hooker”s corps; Fredericksburg, under Burnside, and in storming the heights on the left of Fredericksburg; was wounded and sent to the hospital at Washington. Three months afterward was ordered before the Board of Examiners to examine officers to command colored troops. Passed as Captain of the first class, and was mustered into the Nineteenth Colored United States Infantry March 23, 1864, at Baltimore, commanding a company. May 1, was assigned to Burnside’s corps, crossed the Rapidan May 4, and participated in all Grant’s engagements before Richmond until November 28, when he was wounded in the right arm at Bermuda Hundred, necessitating an ex-section of the radius of the right arm; was sent to Chesapeake Hospital at Fort Monroe, where he remained until the capture of Richmond, his regiment being one of the first to enter the city. The war being over, his regiment was sent with corps of observation to the Rio Grande, where he continued until the expiration of his term of enlistment. He was mustered out at Baltimore March 27, 1867; was placed on the pension list on account of disability from wounds, and was twice brevetted for gallant and meritorious conduct during the war. On his return from the army, he engaged in farming in Bedford County Penn., about two years; then moved to Wyandotte County, Kan. settled near Rosedale, March 27, 1869; cleared and improved a 160-acre farm, and for several years has confined his attention principally to fruit culture. He bought his present location during the spring of 1874, and now owns 300 acres of choice land, about seventy-five acres of which are in orchard. He has gathered this season about 2,500 bushels of apples, and about 2000 bushels of fine budded peaches; has marketed the present season over $600 worth of berries, has sold $4,000 worth of nursery stock, and besides has received as rental from lands which he lets $2,000 bushels of potatoes, about 1,800 bushels of corn and 600 bushels of wheat. He was married near Sharpsburg, Md., November 26 1868, to Mary Frances Long, an intelligent and accomplished lady, daughter of Elder David and Mary Long. He has six children – Mary, Gerald, Clarence, George, Edna and Maud. Mr. H. is the Treasurer of the Missouri Valley Horticultural Society, and is one of the leading horticulturists of the State. He and his wife are members of the Progressive Branch of the Dunkard Church.
Currently a resident of Burke, Virginia - I'm originally from the City of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. I have been a student of the Pennsylvania Reserves since 1997 and thoroughly enjoy telling their story. By trade I'm a former IT Professional but presently working as a Letter Carrier for the United States Postal Service.
