Charles was a member of the Virginia Company I, 10th Volunteer Infantry (The Riverton Invincibles) with Col. D. H. Lee Martz.
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Charles W Harnsberger
Service Record:
Detailed on 15 March 1862 (As Brigade Wagon Master)
Enlisted in Company I, 10th Infantry Regiment Virginia, as a Private, on 25 April 1862.
Detailed on 15 February 1863 (As Brigade Quartermaster)
Detailed on 15 August 1863 (As Brigade Foragemaster)
Paroled on 20 May 1865 at Staunton, VA
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He was a farmer by trade. During the Civil War Charles had one of his favorite saddles hidden for him by one of his servants as the Union soldiers raided the family home.
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At Wars end Charles found himself with barrels of useless Confederate money currency, most of which was valueless and burned. Some remains in the family today.
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The 1860 census finds Charles and his family living in the home of his father Jeremiah, as follows:
Jeremiah Harnsberger, 65, M, Farmer, $24,400 R.E. / $18,400 Personal, b. VA
Elizabeth, 63, F, b. VA
Lucretia, 40, F, b. VA
Jacob, 37, M, Farmer, $10,000 Personal, b. VA
Fannie (Jacob's wife), 31, F, b. VA
Samuel, 20, M, Farmer, b. VA
Charles, 32, M, Farmer, $3,200 Personal, b. VA
Catherine (Charles' wife), 22, F, b. VA
Annie, 2, F, b. VA
Jennie (Virginia), 4 mos., F, b. VA
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The 1870 census finds Charles living in Elk Run Township, Rockingham Co., Virginia (Roll 1676 Book 1, Page 95a).
The family was enumerated as follows:
Harnsberger, Charles, 47, male, white, farmer, $8000 real estate, $2000 personal wealth, b. VA
- , Catherine, 34, female, white, b. VA
- , Anna, 11, female, white, b. VA
- , Virginia, 10, female, white, b. VA
- , Alfred, 6, male, white, b. VA
- , Eddie, 4, male, white, b. VA
- , Mattie, 2, female, white, b. VA
The 3 oldest children were attending school.
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1880 census of Stone Wall, Rockingham, Virginia
Charlie Harnsberger Self M Male W 52 VA Farmer VA VA
Catherine B. Harnsberger Wife M Female W 44 b.VA Keeping House fa. b.VA mo. b.VA
Annie R. Harnsberger Dau S Female W 27 b.VA fa. b.VA mo. b.VA
Virginia L. Harnsberger Dau S Female W 20 b.VA fa. b.VA mo. b.VA
Alfred L. Harnsberger Son S Male W 16 b.VA fa. b.VA mo. b.VA
Charles E. Harnsberger Son S Male W 14 b.VA fa. b.VA mo. b.VA
Mattie T. Harnsberger Dau S Female W 11 b.VA fa. b.VA mo. b.VA
Oscar J. Harnsberger Son S Male W 9 b.VA fa. b.VA mo. b.VA
Clinton Harnsberger Son S Male W 6 b.VA fa. b.VA mo. b.VA
Kate W. Harnsberger Dau S Female W 4 b.VA fa. b.VA mo. b.VA
William R. Harnsberger Son S Male W 2M b.VA fa. b.VA mo. b.VA
Mary Sandrich Other S Female B 21 b.VA Servant fa. b.VA mo. b.VA
(Film Number T9-1388, Page Number 312D).
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An 1885 Atlas of Rockingham Co., Virginia show C. W. Harnsberger as the owner of 582 Acres, as a farmer, at the Elkton P.O.
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Charles tragically fell to his death while working in the loft of his barn.

Rockingham Register (Harrisonburg, VA), October, 17, 1890