How About Them Longs
I would like to share with you some of the interesting characters in the Long family that helped shape the history of the family. All are descendants of my immigrant Johannes Lang, but not all are necessarily my immediate ancestors. For a full record of about 900 Long descendants, check out my report on my Family Tree Maker site.
My Immigrant
Johannes Lang / John Long was born in Zennern, Hesse, Germany in 1693. He married Anna Schneble of Alsace Lorraine. John came to Lancaster Pennsylvania in 1722. John, also known as Hans was baptised in the German Reformed Church, but he later became a Mennonite. His wife Anna's father and grandfather were among the earliest Mennonites. In 1754, John built a barn that is still standing today, near Lancaster PA, and is an historical landmark. It is known today as the Isaac Long barn, because it was during the ownership of John's son Isaac that the famous Otterbein-Boehm "Great Meeting" took place some time in the 1760's. It was at this meeting that the Church of the United Brethren in Christ was organized. John carved initials and the date 1754 on the lintel in one of the corners of the barn
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| Isaac Long barn
built 1754 Lancaster Pennsylvania (date of photo unknown |
Initials
and Date on the Lintel in the Barn (date of photo unknown) |
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Signs identifying the Isaac Long Barn as it is today
(Photo taken January 1999)
The Barn as it is today
(Photos taken January 1999)
Mexican Revolution
John Long, a doctor was born July 1804, in Huntingdon County, Pennnsylvania. He left Pennsylvania for Texas before 1825 when it was still a part of Mexico. He applied for and was granted citizenship on February 27, 1832. He then became known as Juan. The preceding year on June 24, 1831, Juan was baptized in the Catholic Church. He married Carlotta Vidaurri, the daughter of a former governor of Bexar. John was a brother of my great-great grandfather Peter.
After Mexico lost the territory of Texas, John and his family fled to Mexico. There was a huge power struggle causing revolts and counter revolts. During this time John's father-in-law Vidaurri and another man by the name of Borego, were taken prisoners, by a man named Rodriguez. There is a book titled "The Papers of Mirabeau Buonaparte Lamar" that gives an account of what happened during the kidnapping and rescue of Vidaurri. Following is a summary of the story told:
Dr. Long hearing of the counter revolution, immediately left Candala where he resided, taking with him his family and 8 men to accompany him. On the way he learned about the kidnapping of his father-in-law and Borego and that they were about to shoot them. Dr. Long decided to go to Santa Rosa to rescue them, even though he had only 8 men with him.
Rodriques knew that Dr. Long was coming to Santa Rosa but the number of men he had with him was greatly exaggerated. News had gone ahead of Long that he was advancing with a large force. Rodriques sent a messenger by the name of Miguel Musquiz to warn Dr. Long not to advance or he and his men will die along with his father-in-law. Dr. Long in his fury refused to heed the warning, took Musquiz prisoner, who later escaped. Long feared the Musquiz would betray the weakness of his force so he knew that he had to move quickly.
Instead of telling Rodriques that Long had only 8 men, Musquiz announced that Long had several wagon loads of men concealed in those wagons and that he would not allow him to see their numbers. He told them that Long was breathing death and vengeance upon the town.
When Long arrived in town, Rodriques sent a messenger bearing a letter from Vidaurri requesting that Long take no hasty action, or he would die. Long informed the messengers that in Revolution thousands may die, that he came for blood and that Rodriquez and his followers must pay for their crimes.
All through the night there were negotiations. Long was told that if he persisted, his father-in-law would surely die. Long replied, "I come to save no lives, but to take life; I come for vengeance and nothing more." This bluff worked as Rodriques proposed a treaty whereby all would be forgiven, and that all would live as friends in the future, and that the prisoners would be released.
The treaty did not last however, and in one occasion upon learning that they would be arrested for their stand in politics, (26 were already arrested), Dr. Long had to retreat to the mountains with his servant Alvarado. The two held off 26 armed soldiers from morning until sunset. They then retired further into the mountains during the night and remained there for eight more days, until there was a pardon that come through for the prisoners.
Juan's wife Carlotta died in 1849 and Juan remarried in 1850 to Maria Castellano. Juan was a very respected physician, and some of his descendants also went to medical school.
Civil War Long Brothers
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| Abram and Samuel | David and William |
Abram Long born January 1832, Huntingdon County, Pennsylvania fought in the Civil War for the Union with Company B, 199 Infantry Illinois.
Samuel Long born December 1835, Huntingdon County, Pennsylvania served with Company M, 4th Regiment Iowa Cavalry. Before the Civil War, Samuel went to Colorado in 1859 during the Pikes Peak or Bust gold rush. He prospected on the west side of Pikes Peak looking for gold, even covering the very area that about 35 years later became one of the riches gold camps in North America - Cripple Creek. Not finding any gold he returned home, discouraged. In 1880 he returned to Colorado where his brother David was already living. He homesteaded near the town of Florissant on the west side of Pikes Peak, and not far from where Cripple Creek is now. He never found gold but just a few years before he died, gold was discovered just a few miles from his home. Samuel was my great grandfather.
David Long was born May 1839 in Huntingdon County, Pennsylvania. He served in the Civil war with Company E 2nd Iowa Infantry, and later with 3rd Cavalry Company F Iowa.
William Long was born July 1841 in Huntingdon County, Pennsylvania. He fought in the Civil war with Company F Third Iowa Cavalry.
Daughter of a Pioneer
Atlanta Georgia Long 1891
Atlanta Georgia Long was given that name because her father David was in Atlanta near the end of the Civil War when he sent word home that his daughter was to be named after that city. Attie was born July 1864 in Fairfield Iowa. She is the daughter of David, the Civil War Soldier pictured above. She wrote a book about her life beginning when they arrived in Colorado when she was nearly six years old. After living in several places they finally settled at Florissant, which is just a few miles from what is now Cripple Creek. Her story is full of historical events along with some sad, funny and interesting accounts of her life. Here is an exerpt of her book:
We were camped at the foot of Bull Hill and Sam Thompson picked up a rock, looked at it, and said, "If I was in Leadville, I'd say I had a mine." This was in '81, ten years before gold was discovered in Cripple Creek. Sam threw the rock down the mountain and in after years, Stratton staked out his Independence Mine, which he afterwards sold for eleven million dollars, almost on the exact spot where Sam Thompson made that remark. We did not know that we were walking over gold.
This account was during a berry picking excursion that Attie, her husband Silas Thompson, and his brother Sam had taken in 1891. The book is still available and it is very interesting reading for anyone interested in Colorado History.
My Direct Lineage
Johannes Lang/John Long, was born June 10, 1693, in Zennern Hesse, Germany; and died Feb 5, 1767, in Lancaster Pennsylvania. He married Anna Schnebele. He is the immigrant described above.
Joseph Long, was born Feb 14, 1726/27 in Lancaster Pennsylvania; and died November 1804 in Huntingdon County Pennsylvania. He married (1) Maria Wenger Dec 16, 1753, Maria died leaving four young children, Joseph then married (2) Elizabeth Good, Aug 16, 1761. Joseph kept a handwritten record, in the German language, the vital statistics of his family covering his parents, his siblings and his children by his two wives. This has become a very important document for researches of this family.
Abraham Long, was born December 6, 1778 in Lancaster County Pennsylvania; and died December 3, 1848 in Huntingdon County Pennsylvania. He married Catherine Baker.
Peter Long, was born October 1800 in Huntingdon County, Pennsylvania and died April 29, 1866. He married Sarah Ricketts. Peter moved his family to Libertyville, Jefferson County, Iowa sometime between 1850 and 1856.
Samuel H. Long, was born December 21, 1835, in Huntingdon County, Pennsylvania; and died June 3, 1895 in Florissant, Colorado. He married Ruhama McClure. Samuel is one of the civil war brothers above. After the Civil war he resided in DeKalb County, Missouri. He owned some acreage that was deeded to him by his father-in-law Elisha McClure. In 1880 he moved his family to near Florissant Colorado, and resided a few miles south of the town until his death. Florissant is just a few miles from Cripple Creek, Colorado the world's richest gold camp. He had prospected for gold in the area in 1859, before the Civil War, but did not find any. It was not long before his death that gold was discovered there. He and his wife were buried at Four Mile Cemetery, south of Florissant.
Roy Finis Long, was born January 31, 1874, in DeKalb County, Missouri; and died November 1929 in Denver Colorado. He married Minnie Dennis on June 9, 1901 in Cripple Creek, Colorado. He worked as a miner in the mines of Cripple Creek, for a few years. He moved his family to Denver, Colorado sometime before 1910. He opened up a shoe repair shop in downtown Denver. He later became ill with a lung disease, probably caused from his years as a miner.
Earl Leroy Long, was born November 15, 1905, in Cripple Creek, Colorado; and died September 13, 1988, in Greeley, Colorado. He married (1) Thelma Blackburn, and (2) Jurena Hendriks. Earl and Jurena were both deaf all their lives. Earl's deafness occurred when he was an infant, caused by the measles. He attended the Colorado School for the Blind and Deaf, in Colorado Springs. He led a full and rewarding life, a born again believer, he was very active in church, where there was an interpreter for the deaf. An outgoing person, he even taught the hearing at the church sign language. Jurena , was born October 18, 1912 in Rock Valley IA. and died July 12, 1999 in Brush CO.
Then there is me, Marianne Lou Long, I was born in Denver Colorado, but I won't tell you when. You know the rest from my introduction on my home page.
