CAPT. RICHARD B. LONG AND FAMILY, Smith County, TX 

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Submitted by Leroy Booker Butler, leroybutler@hotmail.com 
16 May 2001 
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CAPT. RICHARD B. LONG AND FAMILY  "Some Biographies of Old Settlers." 
Historical, Personal and Reminiscent. Volume I 
By Sid S. Johnson, 1900: Sid S. Johnson, Publisher, Tyler, Texas 
Chapter XXXIV - Pages 166-171 - Picture of Capt. Long on Page 166

Capt. Richard B. Long was born in Bedford county, Tennessee 
(now Marshall County) December 1st, 1817. He was the son of Benj. Long, 
who was a native of Kentucky, and emigrated to Tennessee at an early 
day. Col. Benj. Long was a soldier in the war of 1912, under Gen. 
Andrew Jackson, and distinguished himself for gallantry and soldierly 
conduct. Col. Benj. Long married Miss Mary Dickson, a daughter of 
James Dickson, a prominent family who moved from North Carolina to 
Tennessee.

Capt. Richard B. Long married Miss Nancy J. Marbury, a daughter of 
Maj. L. W. Marbury of Bedford county, Tennessee, January 30, 1840. 
Mrs. Long was a Christian woman of accomplishments who died in Tyler, 
Texas, the 7th of August, 1888, and her remains were buried in the 
Tyler Cemetery.

Capt. and Mrs. Long had born to them nine children-James B., Leonard, 
Mary Bell, Richard Brown, Jr., Sarah, Medicus A., John J., Sammie, 
and Neppie. Jas. B., Leonard, Sammie, and Neppie are dead.

Capt. Richard B. Long removed to Texas in 1850: first to Nacogdoches 
county, where he remained five or six months, and in the fall of the 
same year he moved to Smith county, and settled in the Wm. Green 
neighborhood, six miles east of Tyler. He moved to Tyler and settled
the old Dawson place, in Southeast Tyler in 1852. He was elected 
sheriff of Smith county in 1854 holding office for two years. He also 
held the office of district clerk for eight years, making an efficient 
and popular officer, with satisfaction to the people and credit to 
himself.

When the Civil War broke out, he raised Company B, of the 11th Texas 
Infantry, commanded by Col. Oran M. Roberts, (the old Alcalde), 
afterwards the 'Pay-as-you-go' Governor of Texas. Capt. Long made an 
excellent officer and a good Confederate soldier. He was Postmaster of
Tyler for four years during the administration of President Cleveland. 
He filled this position with fidelity and honesty, as he always filled 
every public trust given him through a continuous life of fifty years 
in Smith county. He has enjoyed the confidence of the people, always 
on the advance lines of whatever benefited his community.

On the 22nd of June 1889, he married the second time, Mrs. Aggie 
Butler, the daughter of Dr. and Mrs. Wm. R. Langley. Mrs. Long is a 
woman of excellent and noble traits of character and is pleasantly 
surrounded with the comforts of a good home. Capt. Long, while feeble 
from age, enjoys generally good health for one who has lived so long.

James B. Long, the eldest son, when a mere boy, enlisted in Douglas' 
Texas Battery, and served gallantly through the civil war. He married 
the pretty and accomplished Miss Dora Shuford, one of the attractive 
daughters of Dr. Quincy A. Shuford. James moved to Louisiana soon 
after his marriage where he died in early manhood. He was a noble 
fellow-intelligent, genial, and companionable. They had two children, 
(one died in infancy). Shuford Long lives a few miles in the country, 
a young farmer of promise. He married Miss Lola Story, a prominent
and successful farmer of Smith county. They have three children -
Turner, Quincy and Lena, who live with their parents on the farm.

Miss Mary Bell Long married Thomas P. Smith, who died at Marshall, 
Texas, January 14th, 1900. He was one of the finest preaches in the 
East Texas (Methodist) Conference and of loveable Christian character. 
He was an earnest preacher of ability and power, and made a favorable 
impress along the lines of a Christian life. He was a forceful 
preacher, full of magnetism and modest Christian elegance that carried 
conviction and good results among his congregation. He was a favorite 
preacher among his fellows, and for manly virtues and a Christian 
gentleman, the people loved and admired him. His devoted wife shared 
the attendant hardships of an itinerant preachers life with Christian 
fortitude: assisting him in his noble work. Mrs. Thos. P. Smith resides 
in Tyler. They had no children of their own, but did an excellent part 
in raising several orphan children, giving them the advantages of a 
good Christian home and a liberal education. Rev. Thos. P. Smith was a 
success in life: a manly man, doing a good work and has received a 
just reward promised to those who follow Christ.

Richard Brown Long, Jr. is a resident citizen of Tyler, and a leading 
and popular businessman. He married Miss Mattie Taylor, one of the 
accomplished daughters of Josephus Taylor, a prominent citizen of 
Tyler. Brown Long is a big-hearted generous business man, who has 
great faith in Tyler and Smith county. He has been for years in the 
insurance business: formerly a prominent merchant. His business 
qualifications are good, his moral habits excellent, and he is at 
this writing the popular Democratic nominee of Smith county primary 
for tax collector. He is a strict member of the Baptist Church. Brown 
Long has many friends. He was mayor of Tyler four years, voluntarily 
retiring, giving satisfaction in his splendid management of municipal 
affairs. He is honest and popular.

Mrs. Sarah Long married Hon. John W. Robbins, the present State 
Treasurer of Texas, who is living in Austin. Their resident is at 
Vernon, Texas in the panhandle. John W. Robbins is an old Smith 
county country boy and the people here rejoice at his official 
success. They had seven children, (two died in infancy). Those living 
are: Miss Jonnie Bell, an attractive young lady, Richard brown, 
Leonard, Horace and Walter. All are with the family at Austin.

Med A. Long married Miss Lillie Loftin, the accomplished daughter 
of Dr. O. Loftin, at this city.  Med is a progressive businessman of 
fine qualifications, full of energy and stands well in the business
world. He is to the front in raising fruit and a large shipper of 
fruits, berries and the products of the farm, making a success out of 
his line of industry that is assuming such large proportions in Smith 
county. He is a man of social habits and a very popular citizen. He 
has been an alderman in this city and works for the good of the people. 
He has the confidence of the business people.

John J. Long married the amiable Miss Denia Browne, a sister of George 
and Sam Browne. Three children bless their household-Med, Richard and 
Francis, all of whom reside in this city. John is also a pushing 
businessman, and has the confidence of the public.

The Longs are of an old stock, dating back to the revolution, and 
this branch of the Long family is keeping up the same high standard 
of excellence, intelligently, socially and morally.

The father of this branch of the Long family is a grand old man, full 
of honors and years. A citizen of fifty years, he has witnessed the 
change from a wilderness to the present state of civilization and
greatness. The old log house has given way to the modern building. 
Capt. Long helped to found her educational institutions and her civil 
structure. He has been a Mason sixty years, and is now a member
of the Methodist church strongly attached to that faith. His first 
wife died a member of the same church.