LONGSTREET, JOHN The ancestry of the Longstreet family is of Scotch-Irish and German extraction. The grandfather of the subject of this sketch was born in New Jersey. He removed to Ohio about the year 1810, and settled in Warren county. His son, Aaron Longstreet, father of John, is still a resident of that state. He married Mary Galiher. Her father, John Galiher, is still living, although at the advanced age of ninety-two years. Mrs. Longstreet died in 1841. Mr. Longstreet afterward married Nancy Ward. She died in 1876. By the first marriage there were three children--al boys. The subject of this sketch is the eldest of these children. He was born in Butler county, Ohio, September 2d, 1832. Like most farmers; sons, his boyhood was passed upon the farm, assisting in the work during the summer months, and attending the countr schools during the winter. He grew to manhood, and remained beneath the parental roof until his twentieth year, when he commenced life for himself. He leased a farm, and continued its cultivation for three years, when he embarked in the mercantile business in the town of Middletown, Butler county. One year later he and his brother leased the home-farm for two years. He remained in Ohio until 1862, when he came west, and settled in Maroa township, where he has resided and continued farming until the present time. On the first of November, 1857, while yet a resident of Ohio, he was united in marriage to Miss Vashti Wykoff. She is of German extraction. The Wycoff family were originally from New Jersey. They came west to Ohio, at a period when the city of Cincinnati had but two houses. They were among the very early settlers of the state. The marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Longstreet has been blessed with seven children, all of whom are living, and yet at home. Mr. Longstreet is an honored member of the order of Freemasonry, and belongs to Maroa Lodge, No. 454, and Goodbrake Chapter of Clinton, Illinois. Politically he is a believer in the principles as enunciated in the platform of the republican party. He has represented his township in the Board of Supervisors for five consecutive terms. He is an influential member of the Board. He is a member of the Finance Committee, and was one of the five of that committee who negatived the refunding of $187,000 of the Macon County Bonds. His frequent re-elections attest his fitness for the responsible place, and is also expressive of the confidence reposed in him by his constituency. History Of Macon County Illinois - 1880, p. 174 Transcribed by Pat Hageman ------------------------------------------------------------ USGENWEB NOTICE: These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or presentation by other organization or persons. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material, must obtain the written consent of the contributor, or the legal representative of the submitter, and contact the listed USGenWeb archivist with proof of this consent. ------------------------------------------------------------ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by Pat Hageman (© 1997 Pat Hageman)