Logan County KyArchives Biographies.....Long, Nimrod ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/ky/kyfiles.html ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Joy Fisher http://www.genrecords.net/emailregistry/vols/00001.html#0000031 June 14, 2011, 10:51 pm Source: See below Author: Mrs. J. Wells Vick Nimrod Long to whom Bethel College owes its financial prosperity more than any other man, was born in Logan Co. Ky. July 31, 1814. He was the son of John Slaughter Long and wife - nee, Elizabeth Foster, both lie buried in the Long and Foster Graveyard near Old Volney ten miles on the Russellville - Clarksville Road. N. Long had a common school education; at fourteen years of age he entered a dry goods store in Russellville as clerk for three years, then became a partner and soon after senior partner. After the senior partner died he took his brother as partner. Then followed twenty years of merchandising, then a banker, tobacco dealer, live stock, real estate, manufacturer of flour, in all of which he was abundantly successful. He united with the Baptist Church at an early age. He used his business qualities to advance the cause of Christ. Kerr's History of Kentucky Vol. IV page 433 has this to say relative to Nimrod Long, "Nimrod Long was one of the ablest financiers on Southern Kentucky and a man of great philanthropy, whose generosity is represented in several institutions, including Bethel College. The N. Long Professorship of English and History of Bethel College was named in honor of the devoted services and liberality of Mr. Long. The original domitory [sic] is known as the N. Long Hall and was built in 1873. Some years after his death in 1892, the heirs of Mr. Long and C. W. Norton gave to Bethel College the property known as the 'Southern Bank of Kentucky' to be used as a library and other purposes." Mr. Long served as treasurer of his church, the First Baptist of Russellville and was a very liberal giver to his church. The quiet man of business and affairs, Nimrod Long, had some advantages that several times exposed him immediately to the dangers of death. Once he was on a steamboat coming from St. Louis; the boiler exploded, the man sitting by him was blown to atoms, and he himself was projected into the air and landed on an adjoining steam boat. At another time his home was blown up by leaking gas in the cellar and he was badly injured. He also fell off the roof of Bethel College. When the James boys made their raid on his bank a bullet fired by the bandits plowed his head and he was beaten by the robbers until they thought he was dead. In spite of all these hazards the end came quietly and peacefully in his own home. Additional Comments: Volunteer transcription - copied from FHL Film #855039 File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/ky/logan/bios/long525gbs.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.org/kyfiles/