Long, William C.

LONG

Posted By: Karon Velau (email)
Date: 9/22/2019 at 16:43:12

William C. Long

(From the 1891 Biographical History of Pottawattamie County, Iowa, p.239)
WILLIAM C. LONG, a successful farmer of Wright Township and an ex-soldier of the late war, came to Pottawattamie Co in 1876 and has since resided here. He was born in Somerset Co, Pennsylvania, February 11, 1847. His father and grandfather, Jacob H. and Henry LONG, were both natives of Somerset County. His mother was Mary E. Baker, also a native of that county, a daughter of Josiah Baker, a native of Pennsylvania. Both the Longs and Bakers are of German extraction. When William C. was six years old, his parents moved to Howard County, Indiana. There he worked on the farm in summer and attended school during the winter months. In the fall of 1863 he enlisted in Company E, 11th Indiana Cavalry and took an active part in the war until its close. He participated in the battles of Huntsville and Athens, Alabama; Columbia, Tennessee; was on the march against General Hood's forces and was at Franklin, Spring Hill and Nashville, Tennessee. The war over, Mr. LONG received an honorable discharge at Indianapolis, Indiana and from there went to Lee Co., Illinois, whither his father had moved during the war. His mother had died in Howard Co, Indiana in 1863, leaving 12 children as follows: Lydia Susana, Lucinda, William C., Rebecca, J.W., Matilda E., Martin Luther, Mary Ellen, Rosyanna; Franklin and a babe unnamed are deceased. Harry, another son, was drowned. He was a member of the same company in which his brother served, was taken prisoner at Columbia, Tennessee, and confined at Andersonville for four months. At the end of that time he was paroled, put on board the Old Sultana, a condemned vessel, which went to the bottom of the river with all on board, near Memphis. Mr. Long resided in Lee Co, Illinois, until 1876 when he came to Iowa. He spent one year in Boone County before coming to Pottawattamie County. In Center township he purchased and improved a farm of 80 acres, which in 1883, he sold to Jack EVANS. Then he bought his present farm of 120 acres. This place is one of the best farms in the township, everything about the premises indicating industry and prosperity. Mr. Long has a story and a half frame house, which is built in modern style and which is surrounded with a grove and orchard. He has a good barn 24 X 26 feet, with 16-feet posts, and a corn crib 24 X 32 X 12 feet with a capacity of 3,000 bushels. He has a long cattle shed, a cow stable, a wind pump and everything convenient for carrying on general farming and stock raising to the best advantage. July 3, 1867, Mr. Long was married in Howard Co., Indiana, to Miss Lavina Darby, a lady of much intelligence and a native of Clinton Co, that state. She is a daughter of John and Rachel Darby. Mr. and Mrs. Long have three children: Laura Etta, Lilly Dale and Lucy Ellen. They lost their first born, an infant son. Mr. Long is a Republican, and like the representative citizens of his county, is well posted on general topics and current events.