Thomas C. Long
Thomas C. Long, of German township represents a type of manhood that is the pride of our American civilization the self-made man who has worked his way, unaided, to an honorable and prominent place among his fellows. Born in Sugar Creek township. Allen County, Ohio, in 1855, he was one year old when his parents moved to Amanda township, and was not yet nine years of age when death deprived him of their love and care. He was bound out for about nine years, when he hired out to William Anderson for one month for the sum of $18. Drawing his pay for this work, he went to Lima and purchased two suits of clothes, one for Sunday and one for everyday, and then returned to German township and attended school in District No. 11 for the four winter months. When arm work opened up in the spring, he hired out at $18 per month to William Holmes and, during the seven months thus engaged, hoarded his earnings so carefully that he spent but $2, receiving Mr. Holmes' note for the balance. Again he took up his educational work, entering school in Shawnee township and attending through the winter and spring months. The following summer he took up painting and was able by close economy to clear $200 by his season's work. Again he started in school for the winter, spending all his spare time out of school in working for his board. When summer came again, he took contracts for painting and followed that work for two years.
In March, 1876, Mr. Long was married to Mary Benedum and a family of five children have been born to them, namely: Wardilla May; William Thomas, who is employed in the Indiana oil field; John Benedum; Harvey and Amos. Mrs. Long died December 10, 1905, aged 49 years. After his marriage, Mr. Long again turned to farming, having, in 1875, purchased 36 acres of land and in 1877 opened a stone quarry, to furnish stone for the building of pikes and bridges. He did well at this work and has been engaged in it ever since. Later he contracted for building pike roads, and most of the roads in German township have been constructed by him, as well as many others in the county outside this township. In 1892 he went to Van Wert County where he put down 48 miles of pike in Ridge township, the work taking him four years. During the past seven years he has done considerable repaving and about five years ago he began making cement walks, barn foundations, etc., and as been very successful. He has purchased outright 125 acres of land and has a life lease on 90 more, where he keeps many head of cattle and horses. For some time he has been engaged in buying and selling stock, his ventures in this line proving very profitable. Mr. Long is a member of the Odd Fellows and of the Eagles and is a zealous worker in the Methodist Church.