Christopher Daniel “Horsetrough” Daniel Gottfried Harsdorff

Christoph was born in Buhne, Kreis Halberstadt, Germany(Prussia). His family came to Texas about 1847. His family settled in the Meyersville, Dewitt County area. He was one of three sons. His brothers were Friedrich and William. His sisters were Louisa (Albrecht), Caroline (Schlein), Henriette (Dietz) and Emilie (Davis). His parents were Friedrich Christian Harsdorff and Caroline Grashof. He fought in the Union Army during the Civil War. His occupation in life was a Stock Raiser and he was a known Wild Horse Trainer. There were all types of stories about Christoph including one about him and the infamous "Sally Scull". After the Civil War he settled in the Kendall, Blanco and Comal Counties area just north of San Antonio. He was married to Maria (Mary) Rushig Mayrhofen Muenzler and Lucinda Taylor. His children were Anna (Brink), William Hasdorff, Louise (Wieland), Christine (Harrison), Roxie (Yeager), James Jackson Hesdorff and Minnie (Gandine). He moved our family to San Antonio in the late 1890s to live out the remainder of his long fruitful life.

Christoph joined the Union Army and fought in the Civil War at the Battle of Morganza in Louisiana. He was wounded in the shoulder around the time of the battle.

GEDCOM Note

I am Ron Hesdorff, the great grandson of Christoph Harsdorff. My grandfather James Jackson Hesdorff was his youngest son. I have done extensive research on my great grandfather. He fought in the UnionArmy in the Civil War. In his Civil War Pension paperwork he mentions his two wives Mary Rushig and my great grandmother Lucinda Taylor. There are no mention of any other wives. The family of Sarah Jane Newman (aka Sally Scull) have stories that Christoph and Sally were married before the Civil War. Sally was a woman who was known to have relations with several men throughout her life. I have never been able to find such a marriage record. The deed records found show them listed with the same name, but again the deed could have been written this way and she might have used his name. I have a problem with Sally's family and their stories about my great grandfather Christoph. Sally's family tells a story passed down by others alleging he killed Sally and was seen with her horse coming back from Mexico. These allegations are all "hearsay", which have no merit in my book. There have been other stories Sally Scull went her own way and was seen living a full life, again all "hearsay". The deed documents found are wonderful documents. It does appear they were living as husband and wife when these documents were written, which very well could have been the case in their eyes. But I still question a loyalty in their relationship. My major concern is her loyalty to the Confederate Army and Christoph’s loyalty to the Union Army. Was there a hidden intention to watch her actions during this time with the Confederacy? We may never know. I still believe she met her demise because of her support to the Confederate Army. This might have also been the reason Christoph did not mention their relationship in his Civil War pension documents, in fear it would have a detrimental affect to receiving his pension. Either way they went their separate ways, and their opposition to support of the Civil War might have very well been the case. But my main concerned when telling a story about a person are allegations made based on "Hearsay". I am here to set things straight, don't believe online stories about my Great Grandfather Christoph if they are based on rumors and storytelling. He was a very respected Stockman in the Boerne area later in his life. He lived a long life and had a very large family, some who are still living. These stories can be very hurtful if taken the wrong way. Thank you, Ron Hesdorfflly Scull:

Christoph was born in Buhne, Kreis Halberstadt, Germany(Prussia). His family came to Texas about 1847. His family settled in the Meyersville, Dewitt County area. He was one of three sons. His brothers were Friedrich and William. His sisters were Louisa (Albrecht), Caroline (Schlein), Henriette (Dietz) and Emilie (Davis). His parents were Friedrich Christian Harsdorff and Caroline Grashof. He fought in the Union Army during the Civil War. His occupation in life was a Stock Raiser and he was a known Wild Horse Trainer. There were all types of stories about Christoph including one about him and the infamous "Sally Scull". After the Civil War he settled in the Kendall, Blanco and Comal Counties area just north of San Antonio. He was married to Maria (Mary) Rushig Mayrhofen Muenzler and Lucinda Taylor. His children were Anna (Brink), William Hasdorff, Louise (Wieland), Christine (Harrison), Roxie (Yeager), James Jackson Hesdorff and Minnie (Gandine). He moved our family to San Antonio in the late 1890s to live out the remainder of his long fruitful life.

Christoph joined the Union Army and fought in the Civil War at the Battle of Morganza in Louisiana. He was wounded in the shoulder around the time of the battle.

Thank you Great Grandfather for giving us the gift of Strength,

Ron Hesdorff