Minor T. Long
Minor T. Long, one of the prominent citizens and substantial, reliable and representative men of Allen County, residing in his comfortable and attractive home on his farm of 350 acres, located in sections 28, 33 and 34, Marion township, was born Augst 24, 1845, in Clermont County, Ohio, and is a son of Jacob and Rebecca A. (Westerfield) Long.
The Long family is a typical American one, the record of past generations showing loyalty to country and good citizenship in upholding her laws. Jacob Long, the grandfather of Minor T. and a son of Jacob, removed with his first wife, Elizabeth Carliard, from Fayetteville, North Carolina, to Hamilton County, Ohio settling with the pioneers on the site of the present city of Cincinnati. He had done good service in the War of 1812. After some years of residence at Cincinnati, he decided to press still farther into the wilderness, much of which was then almost unknown territory, and after making his decision shipped the house-hold effects from Cincinnati to Clermont County, and in the spring of 1852 he came by canal boat to the neighborhood of Delphos, and settled on 73 acres, which comprise a part of our subject's farm. The land is beautifully situated, sloping gently to the Auglaize River, and has every advantage of location and fertility to make it one of the most valuable estates in this section of Ohio. On this land, engaged in clearing and tilling, in looking after the interests of his family and paying attention to the welfare of his community. Grandfather Long spent the rest of a long, useful and worthy life, dying May 6, 1869, aged 87 years, 2 months and 1 day. His second wife, Mrs. Minerva (Free) Westerfield, who was the widow of Jacob Westerfield, died seven years later, on November 25, 1876, aged 76 years, 8 months and 19 days. Their remains rest in Walnut Grove Cemetery, a marble slab marking the spot. In close proximity rest the ashes of their son, the father of our subject, and here in his memory has been placed one of the most beautiful granite monuments of the "City of the Dead."
For a number of years these venerated pioneers lived in a primitive log cabin, surrounded by the forest, and they passed through many of the hardships which early settlers so courageously faced and endured. They wore homespun clothes, they made by hand almost all of the necessary household implements, and they labored from rise to set of the sun; but they also found time to build up those civilizing influences which have always attended upon worthy living, throwing open their cabin to the traveling preacher and securing instructors for their children. Mr. Long was a better educated man than many of his neighbors and naturally was consulted by them on public questions. All over he county this venerable couple were known and their virtues were appreciated.
Jacob Long, father of our subject, was born in Ohio and died in Allen County on July 31, 1895, aged 71 years, 8 months and 30 days. He married Rebecca A. Westerfield, whose death occurred at the age of 64 years, 1 month and 8 days. They both were worthy and interested members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, being connected with the Morris Chapel congregation at Delphos. They were the parents of four children, namely: Minor T., of Marion township; Marianna, who married Theodore Culp, of Van Wert, Ohio, and has a family of children; F. E., who is a farmer living in section 22, Marion township, married and has reared a family; and Minerva, who is the wife of Samuel W. Wright, a member of the Board of County Commissioners of Allen County he resides in section 29, Marion township, his farm being on the Lima turnpike road. The father of Mr. Long followed agricultural pursuits through life, farming in section 28, Marion Township. During the Civil War he followed the example set him by his father, and became a soldier when his country needed his services. He enlisted in a company of the 33rd Regiment, Ohio Vol. Inf., which came to constitute a part of the army of General Sherman and with him made that glorious "March to the Sea." He was one of that victorious view at Washington.
After the close of the war, Jacob Long put aside his sword, figuratively turning it into a pruning-hook, and returned to the peaceful pursuits from which he had been called by the danger of the dismemberment of his country. He was elected by his fellow-citizens to a number of the local offices, including that of trustee of Marion Township, and during his whole life there were numerous evidences shown of the high esteem in which he was held by his neighbors. He was a man ever ready to forward every movement of public value and his hand was open to the call of charity.
Minor T. Long, our immediate subject, is a most worthy representative of ancestors whose honorable lives have been pictured above. He was reared among conditions which were still more or less of a pioneer character, and he remembers well the old log schoolhouse, with its slab seats for benches and its great open fire-place, where he first received instruction. Before his school days were ended, however, a neat frame building took the place of the log structure, and many improvements were introduced.
From early boyhood Mr. Long had duties to perform about the farm. He now reaps the benefit of his boyhood labors. Few farmers have met with more pronounced success than has Mr. Long, in cultivating his land; but he has given more attention to later years to the raising of Shorthorn cattle and fine Percheron horses. He is a fine judge of stock of all kinds and is a familiar figure at agricultural fairs. He has had the satisfaction of bearing off the blue ribbons for his fine Percheron stock at several expositions, notably the Allen County and the Putnam County fairs, for several years.
In the fall of 1867 Mr. Long was married to Nancy J. Tucker, who was born in Perry County, Ohio, and is a daughter of G. W. Tucker. Her father was a pioneer of Allen County. Mr. and Mrs. Long have four children: Cora E., wife of E. E. Truesdale, assistant postmaster at Delphos; Dane D., who was married in June 1905, to Hazel Bradley; Dawn C., unmarried, who assists on the home farm; and Charles Clifford, also at home. Mr. Long and family belong to Morris Chapel and he is one of the board of trustees.
During the Civil War, our subject, like his ancestors, gave loyal service to his country. He was a member of company B, McLaughlin's Squadron, and was all through the Atlanta campaign, marching with Sherman's forces to the sea. He is a member of the Reul Post, G. A. R., at Delphos, and has been commander. Mr. Long has served as trustee of Marion Township for two terms; after having been connected with the School Board for a long period, he is now serving as its president. He is also president of the Mutual Insurance Company of Allen County, which carries nearly $3,000,000 of risks. He is also treasurer of Walnut Grove Cemetery, which, without doubt, is one of the most beautiful and well-arranged burial places in the county. As one of the officials Mr. Long gives close and careful attention to the constant improvement and beautifying of this spot.