LONG, Robert Elmer 1882 – 1936

LONG, MORRISON, PRINTZ, BUHEIT

Posted By: Pat Hochstetler, Volunteer (email)
Date: 4/24/2013 at 07:55:03

After a brief illness of three days, Robert Elmer Long, well known Sac City attorney, passed away at his home on North Tenth street at 6 o’clock last Tuesday morning, a victim of pneumonia.

Mr. Long had been about his duties until Friday when he became ill and he was taken home. The next day pneumonia developed, which quickly developed into a dangerous form, with fatal results.

Funeral services were held at 2 o’clock on Thursday afternoon of last week at the Neal funeral home. Rev. C. A. Burkholder officiated. Burial followed at Oakland cemetery. Stores closed during the hour of the services.

Robert Elmer Long, youngest member of a family of seven children, was born in Poweshiek county, Iowa, April 9, 1882, and passed away on May 12, 1936, at his home in Sac City, Iowa. His parents, Andrew and Mary Ann Morrison Long, who emigrated from Londonderry, Ireland, were among the early pioneers of Iowa, locating on a farm in the above county.

After graduating from the high school at Brooklyn, Iowa in 1902, Mr. Long taught a country school, during the summer vacations working in the fruit orchards of the state of Washington and the wheat fields in Dakota, in order that he might secure a university education. He was also assistant librarian in the library of the University of Iowa, from which school he graduated in 1908 with a B. A. degree and a year of law.

Mr. Long was an educator, giving the next nine years of his life to that profession as a member of the faculty of the Galesburg, Ill., schools and as superintendent of the schools at Tarkio, Mo., and Corning, Lone Tree and Moulton, Iowa. In the meantime he served an apprenticeship to an older attorney and was admitted to the bar on Oct. 7, 1915.

Shortly before the United States entered the World war he saw active duty in the Mexican border service as sergeant of a troop recruited largely from his Lone Tree boys. As a result of injuries received on the border, he was honorably discharged from the United States army shortly before our entrance into the World war.

He was married on Dec. 11, 1918 to Esther Belle Printz, daughter of Dr. Edward Printz of Moulton. Two children were born of this union—Betty Printz, 16, and Barbara, 14. In May 1919 Mr. and Mrs. Long came to Sac City to make their home. He purchased the controlling interest in the Sac County Abstract Co. and has since that time been practicing law. At the time of his death he was vice president of the Sac County Bar association. He has served two terms as county attorney and in 1932 was the Republican nominee for state senator.

Mr. Long was reared in the home of a staunch Scotch-Irish Presbyterianism and has cherished his faith down through the years. He was a member of the First Presbyterian church of Sac City. He was affiliated with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, the Knights of Pythias, Royal Arch Masons and the Elks. Upon graduating from the University of Iowa he was elected to membership in Phi Delta Kappa, national honorary educational fraternity. He was state treasurer of the 40 and 8 society. He has served as adjutant of the local Contigny Post of the American Legion, also two terms beginning in 1926 as district vice commander.

Mr. Long has numbered among those who travailed on the frontier of early hardship and by reason of hard work and perserverance rose to a place of leadership in his profession and among men. His ability and efficiency was recognized by all who knew him. He was a man of pleasing personality. He will probably be remembered by the community at large as a “friend of the friendless,” ever ready to relieve those in distress.

The needy were not turned empty-handed away, for he was ever motivated by the spirit of generosity. No better tribute could be paid to this departed husband, father, and friend, than suggested by the following: The family treasures a clipping that was handed to someone visited by a great sorrow, upon which the following words had been written: “Go then to Robert Elmer Long; he will help you.”

Mr. Long is survived by his wife; two daughters; one sister, Anna Long; four brothers, John B., and James Long of Brooklyn, William Long, Montezuma, and Ed B. Long, Sac City; one aunt, Mrs. F. A. Buheit, Davenport; 6 nephews, 4 nieces, 3 great-nephews and 3 great-nieces, and a host of friends, both far and near, who share in the sorrow of the bereaved.—Sac City Sun.

Source: Unknown newspaper clipping found in scrapbook belonging to my great grandmother, Edith (Kann) Newton.