Union Co., PA Biography of Jonathan Long, Sr. File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by Layne Holley USGENWEB NOTICE: Printing this file within by non-commercial individuals and libraries is encouraged, as long as all notices and submitter information is included. Any other use, including copying files to other sites requires permission from the submitters PRIOR to uploading to any other sites. We encourage links to the state and county table of contents. Jonathan LONG, Sr. of Union County, PA Jonathan Long, Sr. was born about 1811 in Pennsylvania. Nothing is known of his parents nor his ancestors. Jonathan married Catharine Adams, daughter of William and Carroline Adams, also of Pennsylvania. The 1850 federal census recorded the Jonathan Long Sr. family residing in Selinsgrove, Penns Township, Union County, Pennsylvania. Selingsgrove is in present day Snyder County, Snyder County was formed from Union County in 1855. Union County was formed from Northumberland County by the Act of March 22, 1813. There was a Long family in Union County since 1814, residing on the east side (the Union County side) of Penns Creek. Penns Creek divides Snyder County and Union County. The Longs of Selinsgrove, Pennsylvania seem to have located west of Penns Creek on the Snyder County side. 1820 U.S. CENSUS, Somerset County, Pennsylvania: Entry # 48: LONG, Jonathan Males Females 0 - 10: one 16-26: one 16-26: one Entry # 49: LONG, George Entry # 50: LONG, George Brothers Valley Township: LONG, Frederick BRUBAKER, John BRUBAKER, Benjamin ** Conjecture that this Jonathan Long is Jonathan Long, Sr. of the 1850 Union County, PA census. ** Brubaker was the surname connected to William Long's wife. (William Long - Jonathan Sr.'s son) 1830 U.S. CENSUS, Exeter Township, Berks County, Pennsylvania: LONG, Jonathan Males Females 5-10: two 5-10: one 10-15: one 10-15: one 50-60: one 20-30: one 70-80: one 40-50-: one *Unknown if this is Jonathan Long, Sr. of the 1850 census. 1830 U.S. CENSUS, Franklin Township, Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania, LONG, Jonathan Males Females 5-10: one Under 5: two 20-30: one 30-40: one *Unknown if this is Jonathan Long, Sr. of the 1850 census. 1840 U.S. CENSUS, New Berlin Township, Union County, Pennsylvania: LONG, Jonathan Males Females Under 5: one Under 5: one 20-30: one 20-30: one 40-50: one 1840 U.S. CENSUS, Penn Township, Union County, Pennsylvania: **LONG, Jonas Males Females Under 5: two Under 5: one 5-10: one 5-10: one 20-30: one 30-40: one **This Jonas Long is possibly Jonathan Long,Sr. of the 1850 census. 1850 U.S. CENSUS, Penns Township, Union County, Pennsylvania, dwelling # 694/722, Page 049: Jonathan LONG (Sr) age 39 head of household no occupation listed Catharine (Adams) age 43 wife block #12 marked - cannot read and write Samuel age 15 son Catharine C. age 14 daughter Sarah age 12 daughter John A. age 11 son William A. age 9 son Jonathan A. (Jr) age 7 son **The following is a list of LONGS who resided with Jonathan Long, Sr. in Penns Township, Union County, PA during the 1850 federal census: Long, Jacob age 57 dwelling # 701 / 729 Long, Jacob age 43 dwelling # 860 / 893 Long, Benjamin age 53 dwelling # 870 / 905 Long, Samuel age 29 dwelling # 900 / 936 Long, Benjamin age 49 dwelling # 901 / 937 Long, Henry age 55 dwelling # 1069 / 1114 After the 1850 Census, Jonathan Long Sr. and his family moved to Illinois. Pennsylvania families were not able to divide enough of their land to sons and daughters due to the scarcity of land in their own state. Many Pennsylvanians moved "out West" to Stephenson, Ogle, and Carroll counties of Illinois. The early Pennsylvania settlers built their homes in the forests of Illinois as they did in the wooded areas of Pennsylvania. At first, these settlers were not impressed with the large Illinois prairies. Land that would not grow a tree could have no practical value to a farmer. However, John Deere of Grand Detour, Ogle County, Illinois changed all that with the invention of the steel plow. Soon, the prairie's fertile soil produced envious crops and word spread throughout Pennsylvania. It is not known exactly when Jonathan Long Sr. and his family arrived in Illinois. On March 31, 1856, Jonathan Long, Sr. purchased forty acres of land, "more or less", from John F. Solser in Carroll County, Illinois. Jonathan paid $300 which put the land at about $7.50 an acre. No information on Catharine (Adams) Long has been found after 1850. It is possible that she died while in Pennsylvania or perhaps in Illinois. The date and location of Jonathan Long Sr.'s death is unknown. 1856: Warrantee Deed; March 31, 1856 Carroll County, Illinois; Book L, Page 482, Entry # 4184 John F. Solser to Jonathan Long 40 Acres: The North West Quarter of the South East Quarter of Section 29, Township North 25, North of Range #7, East of the 4th Prime Meridian George E. Colton, Justice of the Peace 1860 U.S. CENSUS, Cherry Grove, Carroll County, Illinois, dwelling # 498/471, page 895: Jonas Long age 50 Farmer Value of Real Estate - $1400 Value of Personal Estate - $100 Place of Birth - PA Catharine Long age 23 Place of Birth - PA Harriet Frances Long age 3 Place of Birth - IL William H. Hunt age 21 Place of Birth - OH **It is conjecture that this "Jonas Long" is Jonathan Long, Sr. and his daughter - Catharine C. Long. 1860 U.S. CENSUS, Mt. Carroll Village, Carroll County, dwelling # 056/1903: William Long age 20 Clerk Place of Birth - PA CIVIL WAR: Three of Jonathan Long Sr.'s sons enlisted to fight in the War Between the States. John A. Long served with Company K, 15th Illinois Infantry. Later in the war he became Captain John Long of Company K. William A. Long also joined Company K, 15th Illinois and was wounded at the Battle of Shiloh. Later in the war, William became the First Sergeant of Company K. Jonathan A. Long Jr. enlisted as a private in Company F, 92nd Illinois Mounted Infantry Volunteers. The 92nd, attached to the famous Wilder's Lightning Brigade, fought at the Battle of Chicamauga. Detached from Wilder's Brigade, the 92nd followed General Sherman into the Carolinas. 1870 U.S. CENSUS, Brookville Township, Ogle County, Illinois, dwelling # 124/122, page 145: Jonathan LONG (Sr) age 58 Farmer, Value of Property - $1000, Place of Birth - PA Peter COVILL (Coble) age 29 Farmer, Place of Birth - PA Catharine age 33 Keeps House, Place of Birth - PA Hannah age 13 At Home, Place of Birth - IL Joseph age 9 Place of Birth - IL Ida age 3 Place of Birth - IL Jonathan LONG (Jr) age 23 Farm Hand, Place of Birth - PA 1878: "Ogle County Directory": John A. Long - saddler; Brookville Jonathan Long (Sr) - Sec. 2: P.O. Brookville 1879 THE FORRESTON HERALD, Thursday, January 9, 1879: "--The residence of John Long, of Brookville, was wholly destroyed by fire on last Friday morning. The first intimation the family had of anything out of the way was the discovery of flames rolling out of the roof of the house. Efforts were made to quench the fire but they were vain and it was with great difficulty that the furniture in the lower rooms was moved. The entire wardrobe of the family, with perhaps one or two exceptions, was destroyed. The citizens of Brookville, with commendable generosity, are circulating a subscription paper to get funds to build the unfortunate man another house." **It is conjecture that this "John Long" was Jonathan Long, Sr. or his son, John A. Long. 1880: A Death registered in Carroll County, Illinois m. #304: John Long, age 67, Laborer, Widower, died December 16, 1880. He was buried December 18, 1880 at Mt. Carroll, Carroll County, IL **It is conjecture that this is Jonathan Long, Sr. At this time, very little is known about Jonathan Long, Sr. nor his wife, Catharine Adams Long.