| SAMUEL LONG - was a native of Culpeper
County, Virginia and was born in 1794. He was taken to
Kentucky at the age of seven years, where he lived until his nineteenth year, & then
settled in Washington County, Missouri. In early life he learned the trades of
tanning and shoeing which he followed after his location in Washington County, in 1811. In
1816 he married Nancy Whaley, also of Virginia. They had eighteen children born to
them, fourteen of whom lived to maturity. Of a large family born to Mr. & Mrs. Long,
five sons survive: William, Alfred, John, James & Samuel. In the 1830 & 1840 census Samuel Long was residing in
Union Township, Washington County. The 1850 census lists the following children in
the Samuel Long household: Brumfiled, John, Elizabeth, Samuel, Rebecca, Margaret,
Newton, Sarah. Alfred Long was already married & living two houses away from
Samuel.
Samuel Long became a prominent citizen, and accumulated a
comfortable competency. In
1862 Samuel Long was assassinated by Union soldiers. He was taken from his home & brutally shot without
cause. (See article below). Mrs. Long died 11 May, 1878.
MALICIOUS MURDER - Correspondence of the Missouri
Republican [St. Louis]
Washington County, [Missouri] June 27, 1862 - I send you a brief account of one of the
most heart-rending scenes that has ever occurred in the history of this county. SAMUEL
LONG, one of the most respectable as well as one of the oldest citizens of the county, was
found murdered in the woods, within the sound of gunshot of the place where he had
volunteered near fifty years ago as a soldier in defense of his country, he being one of
the few survivors of the war of 1812. The deceased had resided in this county for more
than fifty years, where he had established for himself a truly enviable character as an
honest, quiet and good citizen, never meddling in public affairs or taking any active part
in politics; indeed, few, if any of his neighbors knew what position, if any, he occupied
in relation to our existing national troubles. He was a large slave owner, and this
circumstance may have induced the belief upon the part of some that he was Southern in
feeling, which led to his arrest, and terminated in his death, but certainly no act or
word of his, I think, can ever be shown, which would have justified his arrest, much less
the taking of his life. The deceased leaves a wife and fourteen children to mourn his
loss, mostly grown, among them our most respectable merchants, smelters and farmers. The
following facts were shown before the inquest: On Thursday, the 26th instant, a
party of German soldiers visited the house of the deceased, where they found only two
young women, daughters of the deceased, and a number of negro women and children. They
demanded to know where deceased was, and were informed by the young ladies that he and
their mother had gone to their son's, a distance of some mile and a half, where they were
harvesting. They then searched and ransacked the house all over, and then left, taking
with them from the house a rifle gun. They then proceeded to the harvest field, where a
number of hands were at work, inquired for deceased, was told he was down at the house of
his son, when they hastily left the field, went to the house and arrested the old
gentleman, who made not the slightest resistance, or used even an unpleasant word, only
saying to them that he was old, infirm, and unable to walk, and for that reason hoped they
would allow him to ride his horse. They refused, and started immediately with him along
the main road back towards the railroad. This was late Thursday evening. Early on Friday
morning the family and friends of the deceased sought him at all points on the railroad
where they supposed him to be, but to all inquiry they received the same answer from the
soldiers, that they knew nothing of him. The fears and suspicions of the family then being
aroused, they instituted search for him, and early Saturday morning he was found about
three-quarters of a mile from where they started with him, and about one hundred and fifty
yards from the road, in the head of a deep hollow and in a dense thicket of undergrowth,
lying dead, with a large bullet hole through his temples - so nearly straight through as
to cut the hat rim on both sides. There was a rifle gun lying by his side, which was
proven to be the gun the soldiers had taken from the house of deceased. The gun was
examined by the coroners jury, and found to be loaded. The verdict was in accordance with
the forgoing facts. All parties in this community are much excited and very
indignant at the act, but seem to have confidence that Gen. Schofield will have the case
promptly investigated. Today the remains of the deceased were followed to their final
resting place by hundreds of citizens, anxious to pay the last tribute of respect to a
much beloved and highly esteemed citizen. (signed) Washington
Children of Nancy Whaley & Samuel Long:
WILLIAM - is one of the most prominent men of
Washington County, & his connection with its affairs dates back to a period which only
few can remember. He was born in Washington County February 16, 1818, & is a son
of Samuel Long..........William was reared a farmer, & in 1847 commenced handling
mineral, & also engaged in smelting & selling goods. He conducted a large
& successful business until the panic of 1873, when he suffered severe & heavy
losses, which absorbed the profits of years. He has been connected in the management
or sale of the largest operations of the county. He settled, where he now resides,
in 1876. Mr. Long has been twice married - first, April 6, 1848, to Miss Mary
Parkinson, [married by John F. Cowan, MG, of the Presbyteriean Church at Washington
County]a native of Washington County & a daughter of William Parkinson who was born in
England in 1827 & married Sarah Kennedy, a native of South Carolina. Mrs.
Long died in September, 1875, leaving five children, four of whom are now living, viz.:
Samuel L., Joseph M., Sarah E. & Anna B. Mr. Long's second marriage took place
March 29, 1877, to Miss Rhoda Chambers, who was born in Warren County, Mo., & is a
daughter of Thomas & Ellen (Kennedy) Chambers of South Carolina. Too much cannot
be said of Mr. Long's indentification with the interests of Washington County. No
worthy movement tending to its financial or moral advancement has failed to receive his
earnest support, &, though he has passed the allotted three-score years & ten, he
is still one of the most active men of the county. From: Goodspeed's
History of Washington County - 1888 Reprint
ALFRED - Alfred was born 15 July 1819. He married
Rachael Owens 5 September 1844 in Washington County. They were married by Aaron
Pinson, JP. Alfred died 25 May 1906 Buried: Long Family Cemetery on Big
River.Children of Rachael & Alfred are:
Samuel - born: 1847 - d: 1909 - buried:
Potosi Masonic Cemetery
Mary E. - 11 Sept. 1850 - 2 Sept. 1939 - Long Family
Cemetery
John O. - 26 Jan. 1853 - married Mary Haefner.
BRUMFIELD - was born in 1823. He married Rosalie
Robert 25 January 1859 in Jefferson County, Missouri.
JOHN - was born 1829.
JAMES - James Long has contributed his full share
to the development of the mineral resources of Washington County, as well as its commercial interests, and no
one occupies a more creditable position. He was born in that part of Washington
County now included within the limits of St. Francois County August 2, 1830. His
father was Samuel Long. James Long became connected with the mining and smelting
business in early time. He is one of the largest taxpayers in the county, and owns
one of the choicest tracts of land in the Moses Austin
Grant, which includes 3, 400 acres. He served as sheriff
and collector of the county four years, and was treasurer six years. He was married
in 1862 to Miss Bettie M. Poston, of St. Francois County, a daughter of Richard and Martha
Poston. [Married by John H. Headle, MG, Methodist Episcopal Church South, St.
Francois County] Their family consists of three daughters: Lillie A. (now
Mrs. Nichols), Mattie D. and Minnie H. In his business relations Mr. Long enjoys, in
an unusual degree, the confidence of the community. From: Goodspeed's History of
Washington County - 1888 Reprint

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| James Long built this beautiful Victorian
style house in Potosi circa 1865 & the grounds occupied the entire block on Mine, Pine
& Clark Streets, with a stable & carriage house on the rear lots. The house
has approximately 10 rooms not including the entrance hall, basement & attic. It
is still furnished with many of the Long family's original furniture. James died in 1916
in the house at left. It is said that his
ghost haunts the home. He is buried in the Presbyterian Cemetery on Breton Street almost directly across the street from
where he lived. Also buried there are his wife Betty Poston Long, & daughters
Mattie & Minnie Long, & Lily Long Nichols. |
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Children of Bettie Poston
& James Long:
Lillie - was married to Noah Nichols.
They had a son & a daughter, Gladys, who was born in 1892 in Potosi. In 1916
Gladys married a lawyer Parke Monroe Banta & they lived in the Long House prior to
moving to Arcadia. they had three daughters: Doris, Carol & Beth. Mr.
Banta served in WWI, was Social Security Administrator for Missouri & was elected to
Congress in 1946. He also served as the first General Counsel for the U. S.
Department of Health, Education & Welfare. On his retirement he & Mrs. Banta
returned to Potosi & took up residence again in the Long Home. Mr. Banta died in
1970 & Mrs. Banta in 1989.
Mattie - died in the house in 1894.
Minnie - was married to James Strother
Hutchinson of Shreveport, Louisiana in 1891. He died in 1899. After returning to the
house circa 1900 she lived there for over 50 years.
ELIZABETH - was born 1834.
SAMUEL - Born: 1834, Died: 1904 - buried Long Family
Cemetery - During the Civil War
Capt. John Casey organized a company of Confederate
soldiers in September 1861 from Washington, St. Francois and Iron counties.
More than one half of the recruits were from Washington County with Richard
Berryman, Mack Cook and Samuel Long as lieutenants. When
Price's Confederate Army
passed through Potosi in September 1864 some of the men were recognized
by citizens to be former Potosians, among them Bill Willoughby and Sam Long.
REBECCA - was born 1838. Married Mr. Hedges.
Rebecca died 18 August 1925 & is buried in the Long Family Cemetery.
MARGARET - was born 1840.
NEWTON - was born 1843.
SARAH - was born 1846.
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