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Henry Birnstock
Henry Birnstock was born in Saxony, Germany, November 4, 1837; came to this country in 1854 and located at York, where he at once apprenticed himself to D. D. Doudel, to learn the trade of tinsmith.
In April, 1861, he enlisted at York, in Company A, Sixteenth Pennsylvania Volunteers, 16th Regiment, for three months, and in August, 1861, re-enlisted in Company I, Seventy-sixth Pennsylvania Volunteers, 76th Regiment, for three years; with the exception of the last six months in the Army of the Potomac, he served in the Army of the South Atlantic, and participated in the engagements of Fort Pulaski, Pocataligo, S. C. (in which he was slightly wounded), Fort Wagner, James Island, Cold Harbor (Army of the Potomac), Chapin's Farm and front of Petersburg. He was mustered out at Harrisburg as first sergeant in November, 1864, having served three months over time.
On his return to York he entered again the employ of Mr. Doudel, with whom he worked until 1869, when he moved to Wrightsville, where he has since successfully carried on the manufacture of tin and sheet iron ware and roofing, and the stove business.
He is a director of the Wrightsville Town Hall Company, the Wrightsville & Chanceford Turnpike Company, and the Wrightsville Hardware Company; is a member of the school board, and also a member of the Masonic order, I. O. O. F. and the G. A. R. He and wife helong to the Lutheran Church. In the borough he has served three terms as chief burgess, and one term as councilman. In 1865 he was married at York to Barbara Wisman, of York, who has borne him eight children. of whom five are living. Silas M., Harry D., Charles F., Willie W., Mary E.; Laura N., Freddie and Calvert were the names of the deceased.
Source: York County, Pennsylvania Biographical History, John Gibson, Chicago: F.A. Battey Publishing Co., 1886.