BIO: John D. LONG, Centre County, PA Contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by JRB Copyright 2009. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/centre/ http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/centre/1picts/commbios/comm-bios.htm _____________________________________________________________________ Commemorative Biographical Record of Central Pennsylvania: Including the Counties of Centre, Clearfield, Jefferson and Clarion: Containing Biographical Sketches of Prominent and Representative Citizens, Etc. Chicago: J. H. Beers, 1898. _____________________________________________________________________ JOHN D. LONG. In the eye of an American there can be no higher honor than the record of service in the war which established beyond further question the permanent union of the States, and made the country truly "one and indivisible". Happily we still have with us many of the veterans of that struggle, and prominent among them is the highly respected citizen of Spring Mills, Centre county, whose name introduces this biography. Mr. Long not only served with distinction himself, his devotion to the cause crippling him by a painful and permanent injury, but he belongs to a family which sent five sons to the front, and would have sent another had he been old enough. Mr. Long's family is of German extraction, and his immediate ancestors in this country on both sides were engaged in agricultural pursuits. His father, George Long, was born in Berks county, Penn., in 1805, his parents being farmers there of limited means, his youth was spent in agricultural work, except one winter when he worked at the cooper's trade. He was married in his native county to Miss Mary Deck, who was born there in 1807, the daughter of a farmer and a member of a family which is now largely represented in that section. After his marriage George Long settled upon a rented farm in Berks county, but in the spring of 1841 he removed with his family to Centre county. Our subject was then only four years old, but he remembers vividly the journey in a covered wagon such as was commonly used in that early day by travelers. For about five years George Long lived upon a rented farm one and one-half miles northeast of Aaronsburg, and then he removed to a rented farm in Gregg township on the Brush Valley road. His remaining years were passed in that township. He was a small man, and did not attain the ordinary limit of three-score years and ten, his death occurring in March, 1864. Mrs. Long, who was of large build, and weighed about 200 pounds, survived him until 1871, making her home with their son, Levi; her remains now rest beside those of her husband in Union cemetery. They belonged to the sect known as the River Dunkards, and in accordance with the tenets of that faith Mr. Long refrained from participation in politics, and seldom or never voted. In early years he sympathized with the Democratic party, but after the opening of the Civil COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 325 war he expressed his hearty endorsement of Republican principles. Although he was a most industrious worker he never accumulated anything beyond a meager competence. He and his wife reared a large family of children, who in character and standing are a credit to their parents. Levi resides in Madisonburg; William, who served in the war as a member of Company D, 148th P. V. I., is now a farmer in Brush Valley; Jacob, a resident of Philadelphia, served in the 205th P. V. I., and being a harness maker by trade was detailed as brigade saddler; Rebecca, Mrs. Peter Zeigler, died in Gregg township; Caroline is the wife of H. J. Limbert, of Madisonburg; John D. is mentioned more fully below: Henry, who enlisted in Company D, 148th P. V. I., died a soldier's death at Chancellorsville May 3, 1863; George, a shoemaker by trade, lives in Stephenson county, Ill.; Mary is the wife of John F. Breon, of Gregg township; Polly (Mrs. Johnson) lives in Kansas; Daniel, who served in Company A, 148th P. V. I., was captured and died in a Southern prison; Jonathan was too young to enlist with his brothers, but his patriotic zeal led him to enter the army during the reconstruction period, when he served in Alabama; Michael resides in Oklahoma; and Lizzie is the wife of George Greninger, of Clinton county, Pennsylvania. J. D. Long (our subject) was born February 12, 1837, at Stouchsburg, Penn., and his experience in youth was that which the conditions of farmers' life in those days imposed upon the sons of poor and hard- working parents. He remained at home until the age of nineteen, receiving but little schooling and that not of the best, and in the spring of 1856 he went to Spring Mills to learn the carpenter's trade under Michael Nofsker, his wages being $5.50 per month and board, his washing not being included. After becoming familiar with the details of the trade he worked two years for Samuel Loose, and was also employed by other carpenters in the locality, but in the spring of 1860 he found similar work in Montgomery county, Ohio, where he remained until his removal, in March, 1861, to Fort Wayne, Ind. There he enlisted, June 14, 1861, in Company C, 15th Ind. V. I. His first battle was at Rich Mountain, West Virginia, only a portion of the 15th Regiment being engaged, and he took part in all the engagements of his regiment until after the battle of Stone River, where he was wounded at 11 A.M. December 31, 1862. His left limb was struck near the ankle by a shell and instantly severed, the bone being splintered almost to the knee. He spent three weeks and a half in the field hospital and the same length of time in a hospital at Nashville, when he was sent to Louisville and there, on February 24, 1863, he was honorably discharged on account of disability. Before returning to Centre county he visited Ohio and Indiana, but the serious problem of a livelihood confronted him, and as he could no longer follow his trade he decided to become a saddler, his injuries not interfering with that work. Accordingly he went to Petersburg, Huntingdon Co., Penn., in January, 1864, to learn the trade with his brother Jacob. A few months sufficed to give him a knowledge of the business, and in August of the same year he took charge of the shop while his brother joined the army for the final desperate struggle which brought definite victory to the Union cause. In the spring of 1866 Mr. Long moved to Penn Hall and later settled in Spring Mills, continuing his trade successfully in both places. After a time he engaged in mercantile business at Spring Mills, but a few years ago he retired, leaving his store to the care of his son. A goodly competence has rewarded his efforts; he owns 144 acres of land in George's Valley, and a comfortable residence which he built for himself at Spring Mills; another dwelling house which he built there was sold. Mr. Long is most kind and generous, and during his business career he made many friends by whom he is held in the highest esteem. He wields a potent influence in local affairs, and although he has never been an office seeker he is one of the Republicans of Penn's Valley. Under Harrison's administration he held the position of postmaster at Spring Mills, receiving his appointment June 15, 1879. Previous to the Rebellion he had been a supporter of the Democratic party, but since that time he has been a steadfast adherent of the G. 0. P. On June 5, 1897, he was appointed postmaster at Spring Mills, Penn. As might be inferred from his war record, he is a member of the Grand Army of the Republic, belonging to Post No. 282, at Centre Hall. On February 12, 1865, Mr. Long was married at Centre Hall to Miss Mary A. Leitzel, a native of Gregg township, Centre county (born May 8, 1839), and a daughter of Philip and Julia (Nofsker) Leitzel. They have six children: Charles P. and George H. are in the mercantile business at Spring Mills; Philip P. is a merchant at Potters Mills; Susan E. is the wife of Robert Neese, of George's Valley; and Ida M. and Frank A. are at home.