Long, A.R.

SMITH, CROSBY, LEADING, POTTER, BURNS, FORNEY, STEPPE, CLARKE, FISHER

Posted By: BCGS
Date: 1/4/2010 at 11:13:43

Since 1878 A.R.Long has lived upon his farm on section 33, Washington township, and has contributed substantially to general agricultural progress during this period. He has accumulated valuable landed possessions and in conjunction with his wife owns two hundred and fifty-seven acres in Bremer and Butler counties. He was born in Buchanan county, this state, in 1854, a son of Daniel A. and Margaret Long, natives of Kentucky. Their marriage occurred in Indiana and in 1852 they removed to Iowa, settling in Buchanan county. Three years later they came to Bremer county and the father entered some government land and bought more, whereon he engaged in farming for a number of years. He accumulated valuable property, for he bought and sold real estate in the vicinity and was an expert judge of land values. In 1880 he retired from active life but continued to make his home on one of his farms north of Waverly until his death, which occurred November 2, 1913. He had six hundred acres of land in Bremer and Butler counties and three hundred and twenty acres in Kansas. He had reached the age of eighty-eight and had survived his wife since September, 1887. Seven of the children born to them grew to maturity, as follows: Laura, the deceased wife of William Smith, of Waverly; A.R., of this review; Arthur, a resident of Waverly; Daniel A., Jr., who was a prominent attorney previous to his death in July, 1912; Florence, the wife of G.W. Crosby, of Woodward, Oklahoma; Ella, who married O.M. Leading, of Pueblo, Colorado; and Jessie M., the widow of Albert M. Potter, of Los Angeles, California.

A.R. Long was one year old when his parents removed to Bremer county and here he acquired his education. When he began his independent career he purchased land in Butler county, specializing in the raising of wheat. He remained upon this property for two years and then, in 1878, bought eighty acres in Bremer county, this constituting a portion of his present homestead. Since that time he has constantly added to his holdings and he and his wife now own two hundred and fifty-seven acres in Bremer and Butler counties. The home farm is located on section 33, Washington township, and all of the land is well improved and under a high state of cultivation.

In Osage, in March, 1878, Mr. Long married Miss Isabel Forney, who was born in Butler county in 1858, a daughter of of Christian and Agnes (Burns) Forney, the former a native of Ohio and the latter of England. The mother came to America with her parents when she was five years of age and her marriage occurred in Indiana. Shortly before the Civil war Mr. and Mrs. Christian Forney removed to Iowa settling in Butler county, among its pioneers. The father accumulated a large amount of land, owning at one time over one thousand acres, which he gradually disposed of. He removed to California and there his death occurred in 1896. His wife survived him until 1909, also passing away in California. They had six children; F.M., of Saskatchewan, Canada; Isabel, wife of the subject of this review; Emma, now Mrs. Steppe, of California; Mrs. Thomas Clarke, deceased; Mrs. Laura Fisher, who has also passed away; and George, who died at the age of eleven. Mr and Mrs. Long became the parents of a daughter, Capitola, who was born in 1879. She attended high school and was engaged in teaching for some time but is now attending the Iowa State College for Teachers at Cedar Falls.

Mr. Long is a republican in his political beliefs and is interested in the welfare and development of Bremer county without being active as an office seeker. He prefers to concentrate his attention upon his business affairs and in so doing has met with gratifying and well deserved success.

History of Bremer County, Iowa Vol. II 1914