BIOGRAPHY: John T. LONG, Cambria County, PA 

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From Wiley, Samuel T., ed. Biographical and Portrait Cyclopedia of Cambria 
County, Pennsylvania. Philadelphia: Union Publishing Co., 1896, p. 66-67
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JOHN T. LONG, an enterprising contractor and building and manufacturer of 
building supplies, of Summerhill, this county, is a son of Joseph and Barbara 
(Schwab) Long, and was born in Cambria township, this county, in 1848.
     Joseph Long, grandfather, was a native of Switzerland, where he learned the 
trade of a tailor. In 1812, seeking a wider field for his labors, he, with his 
wife and four sons, emigrated to the United States, locating for a short time in 
the city of Philadelphia, where he followed his trade. The tide of emigration at 
this time being westward and as there were no railroads, he purchased a horse 
and cart and packing his limited belongings, made an overland trip from that 
city to Somerset county, Pennsylvania. While making the trip, he was put to the 
necessity of working wherever work could be found, to secure the necessary means 
with which to defray the expenses of the trip. He located in the town of 
Somerset, where he resided about two years, and then came to Johnstown, where, 
with his small accumulations, he purchased property and remained about six 
months. He then purchased a tract of land on the border line of Cambria and 
Summerhill townships, in 1818, moved upon it and lived there the remainder of 
his life, dying February 22, 1852, at the age of seventy-five years. He became 
naturalized in 1820, and at once identified himself with the old-time Whig 
party.
     He was justly entitled to rank as one of the very first pioneer settlers of 
the county, settling where he died at a time when it was a dense wilderness he 
served on the first jury that ever tried a criminal case in Cambria county. He 
was a man of considerable genius, possessed more than ordinary musical talent; 
was a composer of music and sang in the Loretto church choir. He had married 
before coming to this county, and was the father of four sons:  John, deceased; 
Joseph, father; Anthony, deceased, and Peter, deceased.
     Joseph Long, father, was born in Switzerland, December 14, 1808, and died 
on his farm in Cambria township, November 3, 1883. At the time of his death he 
resided on the old Long homestead, where he had lived since 1818. As a farmer, 
he was industrious and successful and accumulated a very handsome competency 
before his death.
     He married Miss Barbara Schwab, a native of Baden, Germany, and to this 
marital relation were born three sons and four daughters as follows: Peter, a 
farmer on the old homestead; Joseph, a farmer of Croyle township; Maria, wife of 
Peter Stritmatter, of Carroll township; Barbara, wife of Paul Yahner, a farmer 
and justice of the peace of Elder township; Christina, deceased was the wife of  

Charles Anna, of Carrolltown; Helena, deceased, was the wife of Jacob Yahner, of 
Elder township, and John T., the subject of this sketch.
     John T. Long was reared on his father's farm, received his education in the 
common schools and remained on the paternal acres until nineteen years of age, 
when he apprenticed himself to learn the trade of a carpenter. After learning 
his trade he followed journey-work throughout the west in the states of Ohio and 
Illinois, and at the time of the Chicago fire, in 1871, was in that city, and 
remained there until the following March, when he returned to Cambria county. He 
soon afterwards located at Summerhill and engaged in contracting and building. 
In 1877 he built a planing mill, which was then operated by means of water-power 
and on a small scale.
     His business prospering, in 1886, he enlarged the mill and changed it to a 
steam-power plant and began the manufacture of all kinds of building material. 
His business continued to grow and expand, and it was necessary for him to 
increase his facilities from time to time until he now has a plant worth at 
least $10,000, and does a business of from $30,000 to $50,000 per year.
     Politically, Mr. Long is a democrat who believes in a Jacksonian 
enforcement of Jeffersonian principles. Recognizing his reputation for good 
judgment and strict integrity and probity of character, the people of his 
borough have elected him justice of the peace for a period of four successive 
terms, and as the first burgess of the borough.
     November 12, 1872, he married Miss Mary Stritmatter, daughter of Andrew 
Stritmatter, of Carroll township, and two children have blessed this union: 
Amelia and Bennett.