Richard Long (1818-1906)

LONG, WILKINS

Posted By: Dorian Myhre (email)
Date: 5/17/2021 at 16:53:12

From Nevada Evening Journal, April 4 1906 (front page)

PIONEER IOWAN'S FUNERAL YESTERDAY

Funeral Services of R. Long Held at 4:30 and Remains taken to Iowa City

The funeral of the late R. Long, whose death was mentioned in Monday's JOURNAL was held yesterday evening at 4:30, from the residence of his son, Homer D. Long, after which the remains were sent to Iowa City, where they will be interred today. Rev. James O. Simon of Memorial Lutheran church had charge of the services here and they were attended by as large a number of neighbors and friends as the capacity of the residence would accommodate.

The long life of Richard Long was busy and useful one. Born on January 25, 1818, at Columbus, Ohio, he was over 88 years of age at the time of his death. At an early age Mr. Long engaged himself with two uncles, Richard and John Long, as an apprentice to learn the cabinet-makers trade. This trade he mastered and that well and it was along lines of similar nature that he spent the greater part of his active life.

In 1841 he was united in marriage to Miss Elizabeth Long who lived but about a year after the marriage. Shortly after this marriage the couple came to Iowa and Mr. Long located at Eddyville, where he engaged in contracting and building. Within about a year the wife died and the young man returned to Columbus, from whence he had came and shortly afterwards, with Messrs. Ford and Osgood, formed a company for the purpose of contracting car building. Later in the same year be withdrew from this firm and became interested in the Ohio Machine company which company was engaged in the manufacture of saw mill machinery.

In 1848 he became well known among machine men as being the first man to construct a successful brick-making machine in Ohio. In the latter part of this year he disposed of this business and his patents, and marrying Miss Ann Wilkins, again left the Buckeye for the Hawkeye state. He engaged in building and contracting at Burlington, Fort Madison, Fairfield and other points until 1862, when he located at Williamsburg where he remained for some years. In 1874 he conceived the idea of a highway bridge of the arch suspension type and a couple of years later went to Iowa City, where he engaged in the bridge contracting business, operating extensively in Iowa, Johnson and Linn counties.

He disposed of his patents and bridge business in 1880 and with his son Edwin, went into the machine business at Iowa City. This he followed for about two years when he gave up the active work of life and retired. His second wife died in 1887 and ten years later he, with his son, Homer D., came to Nevada and started a retail clothing business, under the firm name of R. Long & Son, the father as the silent partner. He has continued to make his home here since, with the exception of occasional visits with his other sons, three of whom survive him. The surviving sons are Edwin of Cedar Rapids, Lincoln of Chicago and Homer D. of this city. The fourth son, Frank, was killed in a railway accident at Geneseo, Ill., in 1898.

As a citizen Mr. Long was public spirited, honorable and charitable. He was a man of industry and thrift, always willing to help any just charitable cause to assist in the promotion of any public move of merit. He was a Christian, having espoused the cause of Christ in early boyhood and continued in it through his long life. The public has lost a good man and the sons a kind and indulgent father.