Long, Wilhelm John Adolph 1846-1928

LONG, ELSNER

Posted By: Linda Mohning & Donna Kendall
Date: 3/1/2013 at 09:58:52

Long, Wilhelm John Adolph 1846-1928

BODY CIVIL WAR VET. CONSIGNED TO GRAVE. Taps Answered By Wilhelm Long Following Paralytic Stroke. Was Resident Here for Sixty Years.

The body of Wilhelm Long, Remsen’s lone survivor of the Civil War, and a resident of this community for 60 years, was laid to rest in the Remsen cemetery Monday afternoon following services at the home and at Christ Lutheran church. Military honors were accorded the deceased war veteran, by members of the Pieper post, American legion, and the funeral rites were largely attended by acquaintances who came to pay their solemn respects to the memory of a real pioneer and a true and trusted friend.

Mr. Long died last Friday afternoon at three o’clock, following a three weeks’ severe illness. He was taken down rather suddenly three weeks ago with a paralytic stroke, and owning to his advanced age and general enfeebled condition. it was evident from the very start that his earthly career was soon to be terminated. Mr. Long had been in failing health for about three years, but was always able to be up and about the home and even to perform minor matters of work about the house and yard. During the last three weeks however he was confined to the sick room.

Wilhelm John Adolph Long was nearly 82 years old. He was born on May 7, 1846, in Rakow, Mecklenburg, Schwerin, Germany, where his parents resided on a farm. At the age of 16 years, in company with his sister Sophia, he came to the United States, the two locating near Frankfort, Ill., where Wilhelm found work on a farm. A few months later he heeded the call for volunteers in the Union army and the seventeen-year-old youth enlisted as a private in Company 7, 64th regiment of Illinois volunteers, his enlistment taking place on January 21, 1864. He gave the North faithful and active service throughout the period of the Civil war, and with his company he was joined to General Sherman’s army of 60,000 men who had made the memorable march from Atlanta to Savannah, Ga., covering the 300 miles from November 15 to December 21, 1864. A few weeks later he was on the northward march to Charleston, Carolina. Mr. Long received an honorable discharge from the army on July 11, 1865, at Louisville, Ky.

On leaving the service he returned to farm work in Illinois, and on March 4, 1866, he was united in marriage to Louise Elsner, at the latter’s home, Frankfort, Ill. The couple immediately went to farming for themselves in the same vicinity, but left there two years later, coming to Plymouth county. They settled on a farm five miles northeast of Remsen, the land belonging to I. D. Smith, who was famed for his extensive land holdings in this territory. After renting the place for three years, Mr. Long bought the land and owned it up to the day of his death. Mr. and Mrs. Long retired in 1911 and came to Remsen where they purchased the old Atkinson residence, which is still the family home.

The deceased was a lifelong member of the Lutheran church, and was a staunch and faithful member of Christ congregation here, ever since its founding. He was a man of many admirable traits of character—quiet, unassuming and ever devoted to his family and friends. During his career as a farmer he dealt honestly with his neighbors and others, and his many acquaintances all had the highest respect for him. His passing removed from this community one of the substantial and well esteemed citizens, and is regretted by hundreds of warm friends with whom he had endeared himself in more than half a century during which he lived in this vicinity. The family have the sincere sympathy of the people of Remsen and surrounding territory.

Surviving Wilhelm Long are his widow and the following children: Mrs. Anna Tenhoff, Fox Lake, Minn.; Mrs. Minnie Kerner, Remsen; Wm. Long Jr., Remsen; Fred Long, Dallas, S.D., and John Long, Remsen. There are 26 grandchildren and 23 great grandchildren.

Funeral services were held Monday afternoon, conducted by the Rev. A. Noack, pastor of Christ Lutheran church. Services were held at the home at 2 o’clock and at the church immediately thereafter. The services were largely attended. Pall bearers were: Ambrose Jermann, Detlef Erichsen, Detlef Lindemann, Henry Falke, Wm. G. Sievers, and Robert Newbrand.

– Remsen Bell Enterprise, March 22, 1928, page 1, column 3.

NOTE: There can be confusion between the Long and Lang families in the Remsen cemetery. Generally, the “Long” family was from Mecklenburg, Germany, and the “Lang” family was from Switzerland.