Husband James Elliott Long 1
Born: 13 Feb 1837 2
Christened:
Died: Aft 1888
Buried:
Father: John Long (1797-1876) 1 3 4
Mother: Jane Robinson ( -1879) 1 3 5 6
Marriage: 28 May 1861 7
Wife Carrie A. Brown 7
Born:
Christened:
Died:
Buried:
Father: Orlando Brown ( -Bef 1888) 7
Mother:
Children
1 F Maggie Long 7
Born:
Christened:
Died: in childhood
Buried:
Spouse: Did Not Marry
2 F Meribah "Maimie" Long 7
Born:
Christened:
Died:
Buried:
Spouse: Malcolm W. Wise ( - ) 7
Marr: 18 Dec 1884 7
3 M Lewis Benton Long 7
Born:
Christened:
Died:
Buried:
General Notes: Husband - James Elliott Long
He was born in an old log house that stood on the family farm in Pine Creek township, Jefferson County, Pennsylvania. He said of his birth-place: "The house had a kitchen, dining-room and bedrooms, but with no partition between them. It was all in one, and had a big chimney of stone and mud, with a large fireplace, opening at one side, into which could be put huge logs that made a roaring fire which kept the whole house warm. Though only three years old, I remember this house well. We then moved up on to the hill into a larger house, with a brick chimney and fireplace that I always enjoyed. Many a night when a boy I lay on the hearth listening to the hum of my mother's old spinning-wheel, for in those days she spun the wool and wove the cloth that clothed the whole family. I recollect how proud I was when I got my first blouse tied at the corners in front."
He never had but two years schooling, for his services on the farm were too valuable in clearing off the timber, burning brush, etc., to be wasted on books; but he read persistently all the books that came his way, and thus laid the foundation of a practical education. At the age of twelve years he had almost the entire charge of the farm, and at that age made his first trip "down the creek," and from that time until he left the farm, had the general charge of his father's business. In the summer he worked on the farm and lumbered in the winter. When only fourteen he broke a yoke of oxen that he had raised himself, and that winter put in the first two rafts he ever owned, doing all the work himself, and hauling the timber to the creek with his own ox team. He ran these rafts to Pittsburgh and sold them for three cents per cubic foot, and if his father had not given him "expense money," would have ''come out behind" in this operation. But the young lumberman persevered, and at the age of fifteen was able to pilot a raft from above Brookville to Pittsburgh. The next year his father sent him with a fleet of boards to Wheeling, Virginia, where he had to stay six weeks before he made a sale. The importance of this transaction made him think he was a man indeed. From that time he lumbered on his own account until 1861, when he enlisted in defence of his country, and was elected second lieutenant of company K, Eleventh Pennsylvania Reserves. He remained with his regiment until February 21, 1862, when his brother, Irvin R. Long, died at his home in Pine Creek township of camp fever. He then yielded to the wishes of his aged parents and resigned from the army and came home. He subsequently, however, enlisted during the emergency campaign of 1863, when he served as first lieutenant of Company H, Fifty-seventh regiment. On his return from the army his first work was to raft in the timber he had left lying on the banks of the stream when he enlisted the year previous. The next year he cleared about ten thousand dollars on the lumber he put in and purchased. In 1863 he removed to Brookville, and from that time resided there. His father and mother came with him, and made his home theirs until their deaths.
In the spring of 1863 he engaged in the mercantile business in Brookville, in which he continued for three years, when he sold out to David A. Paine, and in company with G. A. Pearsall, went into the general hardware business. This firm was a prosperous and lucrative one. In the fire of 1873 they were burned out, and the following year built a large brick building in which Pearsall & Son later conducted the same business. In 1875 Mr. Long sold his interest in the store to Mr. Pearsall, and in 1879 sold his half of the building to him. While they were partners, Mr. Long and Mr. Pearsall both built handsome residences on Western avenue, South Side. After selling out to Mr. Pearsall, Mr. Long went into the same business in Du Bois, in company with his nephew, Lewis A. Brady. In 1863 he became a stockholder in the First National Bank of Brookville, and was a director and subsequently president of that bank. In 1877 he again engaged in the lumbering business in Brookville, in company with the late A. J. Brady, under the firm name of Brady & Long, and leased the old Philip Taylor mill, and ran it for about four years. They then bought the R. D. Taylor mill, on Five Mile Run, and in 1883 put up a new mill at the mouth of the run. This, the celebrated "Blaine Mill," has a capacity of 6,000,000 feet, and 500,000 lath per annum. It cost $15,000. In the spring of 1885 Mr. Long bought half of the Philip Taylor homestead and farm, laid it out in lots, and quite a flourishing town sprang up. He also built an addition to the Taylor mansion, and made it into one of the finest hotel buildings in the state.
Mr. Long took an active part in the politics of the county, and was always an unswerving Republican. In 1880 he was a delegate to the National Convention at Chicago, to which he went instructed for James G. Blaine. He was on the ground two days before the convention assembled, and in company with four other delegates got up papers to oppose General Grant in the convention. He was the first to sign this paper, and with one other delegate worked two days and nights to accomplish the measure, securing twenty-three names to the paper, which, with another signed by nineteen delegates from New York, setting forth the fact that Grant could not carry that state, is supposed to have been the cause of Grant's defeat in the convention. The convention lasted seven days, and was one of the most important ever held in the country. Mr. Long voted thirty-five times for James G. Blaine, and once for James A. Garfield, the nominee of the convention.
In 1880 Mr. Long was nominated for the Legislature in Jefferson County, and at the election defeated the late R. J. Nicholson, one of the most popular democrats of the county. While a member of the Legislature, he was one of those who were instrumental in passing the "store order bill," voted for the pipe bill, for the measure requiring railroad companies to erect fences along their tracks, and for all temperance measures that came before that body. Mr. Long represented Jefferson County three times in State convention, and made some of the state nominations. In 1884 he ran for the nomination in Jefferson county for State Senator in the district that was composed of the counties of Jefferson and Indiana, but was defeated by Senator W. J. McKnight. He had, however, the satisfaction of carrying his own town. where he always received a majority when a candidate for any office.
Mr. Long was the first lumberman to adopt the monthly pay system in the county. In addition to his business interests in Jefferson County, he was largely interested in Du Bois. In the year 1875 he purchased the large farm of Henry Shaffer, laid it out in town lots which he sold at liberal rates and on exceptionally good terms to purchasers, often extending the time of payment over a period of five years, thus giving rare opportunities to laboring men and others of limited means to secure homes of their own on the most easy terms. The farm, when first laid out, was known as "Long's addition to Du Bois," and was later covered by what was known as Central Du Bois, the heart of the business part of the town, and became the Second Ward of the place.
In the spring of 1876 Mr. Long opened a large hardware store, in which he subsequently associated with himself his nephew, L. A. Brady, constituting the firm of Long & Brady, which built up an immense trade.
His last but crowning effort in Du Bois was his untiring efforts which resulted in the establishment of the First National Bank of Du Bois city. Early in the spring of 1883, in company with Mr. F. K. Arnold, of Reynoldsville, aided by other citizens of Du Bois and Reynoldsville, the plan was matured, and sufficient stock, amounting to $50,000, secured, to warrant the purchase of a lot, and the erection of a brick bank building, commodious and modern in all its appointments. On the 1st of August, 1883, the new bank opened its doors for business. Beginning January 1, 1887, Mr. Long was president of the bank, and M. W. Wise, cashier.