Yolo County CA Archives Biographies.....Long, James Thomas 1847 - 
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Joy Fisher sdgenweb@yahoo.com December 13, 2005, 11:45 pm

Author: Tom Gregory

JAMES THOMAS LONG

    This pioneer of 1866 in Yolo county, now one of the extensive farmers and
prosperous stock-raisers in the country region surrounding Blacks Station, is a
native of Kentucky and was born at Frankfort, Franklin county, December 7, 1847,
being a son of Thomas Wright and Louise Jane (Duke) Long, likewise born and
reared in the same county and state. The father, who was a skilled carpenter by
trade, moved to Missouri in an early day and settled in Linn county, where he
engaged in the building business. His ceaseless labors earned a livelihood for
his family, but his yearning ambition ever turned his thoughts toward the far
west and eventually in 1864 he carried out a long cherished plan to migrate to
the coast. Starting in the spring of the year he traveled with ox-teams and
wagon, accompanied by his family, as members of a large expedition crossing the
plains. At the expiration of an uneventful journey he arrived in Oregon six
months after he left Missouri.

    About eighteen months were spent in Oregon, but the location did not satisfy
Thomas W. Long and he brought his family south into California, where he
eventually arrived in Yolo county with his teams, household necessities and
other appurtenances. Soon after his arrival he bought one hundred and sixty
acres and put up a cabin for the family, with a barn for the stock. Later he
added to his original purchase until he had about five hundred acres under his
control. From time to time he enlarged and remodeled his buildings until he had
ample facilities for the comfort of his family and the convenience of his work.
After the death of his first wife he was married a second time, July 3, 1878,
being united with Miss Jane Gorton, a native of England, but reared principally
in the city of Frankfort, Ky. Since the death of Mr. Long, which occurred at the
old homestead in January, 1896, his widow has continued to make her home here
with her stepsons, James Thomas and Owen M. Her own son, Claude C. Long, M. D.,
a graduate of Cooper Medical College, with his wife, who was formerly Miss
Claire Owens, and their only child, Claude C., Jr., is a resident of San
Francisco, where he engages in the practice of medicine and surgery. The
remaining sons of the first marriage are Willard A. (a physician of Lewistown,
Mont.), and David H., who is represented elsewhere in this volume.

    At the time of coming to California and settling with his parents at his
present place of residence, James Thomas Long was a young man of nineteen,
sturdy, energetic, willing to endure the privations of frontier farming and to
assist his younger brothers in getting a start in life. Adjacent to the
quarter-section which his father owned he purchased three hundred and twenty
acres and the entire tract is now under his management, yielding fair returns
for his labor and skilled cultivation. In 1908 he erected the commodious
residence that now adorns the property. Previous thereto he had planted
ornamental trees whose beauty adds to the attractive appearance of the estate.
The entire set of farm buildings is kept in excellent condition. Modern
conveniences in the buildings and on the land assist the work of caring for the
stock, including horses and mules, hogs and sheep. The principal products of the
ranch are wheat and barley, but there is also considerable hay raised on the
broad meadows.

    The political views of Mr. Long bring him into co-operation with the local
Democrats and cause him to support the men pledged to work for party principles
and measures. Since he came to Yolo county he has witnessed many changes.
Woodland was a village of only a few houses when he arrived here in 1866 and
there was not even one house between that hamlet and Yolo. Nor had a railroad
been built into the county. All travel there was by stage-coach or wagon.
Notwithstanding its lack of improvement, there was considerable travel through
the county owing to its proximity to the city of Sacramento and to various
mining camps in active operation. When the work of development began it was
promoted by men of energy and sagacious judgment, among whom not the least
prominent were James T. Long and his father. It has been the privilege of the
former to survive to see the improvements of the twentieth century and to enjoy
in middle age the comforts earned by his own self-sacrifice and privations
during younger years.


Additional Comments:
Extracted from

HISTORY OF YOLO COUNTY CALIFORNIA
WITH
Biographical Sketches
OF
The Leading Men and Women of the County Who Have Been Identified With Its Growth
and Development From the Early Days to the Present

HISTORY BY
TOM GREGORY
AND OTHER WELL KNOWN WRITERS
ILLUSTRATED COMPLETE IN ONE VOLUME

HISTORIC RECORD COMPANY
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA [1913]




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