JOHN T. LONG, DEAN OF SURVIVORS OF PIONEER PERIOD, PASSES AWAY
Dies at Age of Ninety at Home in West Middleton – Had Lived in County Eighty Eight Years – Played with Indiana Children and was Favorite of Indian Chief – Served Term as County Commissioner – Real Survivor of Early Settlement Days.
John T. Long, age ninety, a resident of Howard county eighty-eight years, a former county commissioner from the Second district, a man who, in his childhood, played with children of the red men at the Indiana village near Indian Springs, five miles west of Kokomo, a pioneer who had spent more years within the borders of Howard county than any other resident, living or dead, died at 11:30 o'clock, Wednesday, at his home in West Middleton, of pneumonia.
Although he was overtaken with a slight stroke of paralysis several months ago and had infirmities incident to extreme age, Mr. Long was comparatively well until a few days ago, when he was attacked by influenza, an epidemic of which has been general over the county for the past two weeks. From this disorder developed pneumonia, from which he sank gradually to the end.
Surviving are three sons, William G., Arthur and Omer Long, all of Kokomo, and three daughters, Mrs. Emma Trabue, of Kokomo, Mrs. Mabel Shutters, residing near West Middleton, and Miss Ethel Long, who made her home with her father and took care of him in his old age. Mrs. Long died in 1921. The venerable couple celebrated their golden wedding anniversary in the autumn of 1913. They were privileged to live together for fifty-eight years.
Born in Marion County.
John T. Long was born in Marion county, August 10, 1838, the son of Thomas A. Long, a pioneer who came into the Wildcat valley in 1840, took a claim near Indian Springs and established his family there. John T. Long was about two years old when this event took place. His childhood was spent in that locality. His playmates were Indian children, and he became a great favorite with the old peace chief, Pete Cornstalk, the most prominent figure among the Indians of that section at the time. Mr. Long remembered the old chief well, as he did also many of the other Indians, all of whom were removed to a reservation beyond the Mississippi when he was yet a small boy.
Thomas A. Long, the father, was one of the most prominent figures in early day Howard county history. He had resided in the Wildcat valley four years, when the county was organized, under the name of Richardville, a designation which was changed in 1848 to Howard. Thomas A. Long was the county's first gun smith, first nurseryman and one of its very first farmers. He was also its first judge, as he was appointed Associate Judge practically immediately after the organization of the county and served in the position seven years. With the possible exception of David Foster, founder of Kokomo, Howard county, in the pioneer period, had no more colorful, resourceful or romantic figure than Judge Thomas A. Long, nor one regarding whom a greater wealth of tradition has been preserved.
To Banks of Little Wildcat.
After a period spent in the Indian Springs neighborhood, Judge Long established himself on a quarter-section of land on the north bank of Little Wildcat, across the stream from the site of the village of West Middleton, which was not founded until long afterward. There John T. Long grew to manhood, acquiring such education as could be obtained in subscription schools of the neighborhood and supplementing it with wide reading. The homestead of his father passed to him, was preserved by him and continued in his title to his death.
In 1863, Mr. Long was united in marriage with Miss Annie M. Havens, daughter of the Rev. George B. Havens, a leading M. E. minister of the period, an uncle of Charles M. Havens, prominent Kokomo newspaper man, who died a year ago. To this union were born the three sons and three daughters who have been enumerated. Several years ago Mr. and Mrs. Long moved to W. Middleton where they lived quietly and reverently, among old scenes and with friends of a lifetime, awaited the coming of life's sunset.
Had Unusual Vigor.
It was John T. Long's good fortune to possess unusual physical vigor till well toward the end of life. His mind, too, retained its efficiency well. He was unobtrusive, but when he could be engaged in reminiscence could unfold a glowing and accurate story of the long gone days when Howard county was practically an unbroken wilderness. He had been privileged to know personally all of the prominent figures of the county of the pioneer period, and his memory of them was vivid and faithful. Few, if any, are left whose memories reached as far back into the forest days as did his. His term as county commissioner, served forty years ago, was marked by upright and judicious service. He had high ideals regarding public administration and his work as a commissioner conformed to them.
It is a long and extraordinarily interesting life that has closed. The passing of John T. Long removes one of the very last figures that linked the present complex age, with all its amazing inventions and developments, with Howard county as it was in the days before organized government had even been attempted within its borders, before a single public improvement had been started, when it was indeed a part of the "forest primeval." Mr. Long appreciated the length of years given him. All of life he had found well worth living. Loneliness came only when the companion of nearly three-score years was taken. Since then, he had been waiting. He went away serene in a faith that was beautifully old-fashioned.
Source: The Kokomo Daily Tribune, Wednesday December 19, 1928, p1, c7-8.
Transcribed by NLColes on 8/12/13.
Dies at Age of Ninety at Home in West Middleton – Had Lived in County Eighty Eight Years – Played with Indiana Children and was Favorite of Indian Chief – Served Term as County Commissioner – Real Survivor of Early Settlement Days.
John T. Long, age ninety, a resident of Howard county eighty-eight years, a former county commissioner from the Second district, a man who, in his childhood, played with children of the red men at the Indiana village near Indian Springs, five miles west of Kokomo, a pioneer who had spent more years within the borders of Howard county than any other resident, living or dead, died at 11:30 o'clock, Wednesday, at his home in West Middleton, of pneumonia.
Although he was overtaken with a slight stroke of paralysis several months ago and had infirmities incident to extreme age, Mr. Long was comparatively well until a few days ago, when he was attacked by influenza, an epidemic of which has been general over the county for the past two weeks. From this disorder developed pneumonia, from which he sank gradually to the end.
Surviving are three sons, William G., Arthur and Omer Long, all of Kokomo, and three daughters, Mrs. Emma Trabue, of Kokomo, Mrs. Mabel Shutters, residing near West Middleton, and Miss Ethel Long, who made her home with her father and took care of him in his old age. Mrs. Long died in 1921. The venerable couple celebrated their golden wedding anniversary in the autumn of 1913. They were privileged to live together for fifty-eight years.
Born in Marion County.
John T. Long was born in Marion county, August 10, 1838, the son of Thomas A. Long, a pioneer who came into the Wildcat valley in 1840, took a claim near Indian Springs and established his family there. John T. Long was about two years old when this event took place. His childhood was spent in that locality. His playmates were Indian children, and he became a great favorite with the old peace chief, Pete Cornstalk, the most prominent figure among the Indians of that section at the time. Mr. Long remembered the old chief well, as he did also many of the other Indians, all of whom were removed to a reservation beyond the Mississippi when he was yet a small boy.
Thomas A. Long, the father, was one of the most prominent figures in early day Howard county history. He had resided in the Wildcat valley four years, when the county was organized, under the name of Richardville, a designation which was changed in 1848 to Howard. Thomas A. Long was the county's first gun smith, first nurseryman and one of its very first farmers. He was also its first judge, as he was appointed Associate Judge practically immediately after the organization of the county and served in the position seven years. With the possible exception of David Foster, founder of Kokomo, Howard county, in the pioneer period, had no more colorful, resourceful or romantic figure than Judge Thomas A. Long, nor one regarding whom a greater wealth of tradition has been preserved.
To Banks of Little Wildcat.
After a period spent in the Indian Springs neighborhood, Judge Long established himself on a quarter-section of land on the north bank of Little Wildcat, across the stream from the site of the village of West Middleton, which was not founded until long afterward. There John T. Long grew to manhood, acquiring such education as could be obtained in subscription schools of the neighborhood and supplementing it with wide reading. The homestead of his father passed to him, was preserved by him and continued in his title to his death.
In 1863, Mr. Long was united in marriage with Miss Annie M. Havens, daughter of the Rev. George B. Havens, a leading M. E. minister of the period, an uncle of Charles M. Havens, prominent Kokomo newspaper man, who died a year ago. To this union were born the three sons and three daughters who have been enumerated. Several years ago Mr. and Mrs. Long moved to W. Middleton where they lived quietly and reverently, among old scenes and with friends of a lifetime, awaited the coming of life's sunset.
Had Unusual Vigor.
It was John T. Long's good fortune to possess unusual physical vigor till well toward the end of life. His mind, too, retained its efficiency well. He was unobtrusive, but when he could be engaged in reminiscence could unfold a glowing and accurate story of the long gone days when Howard county was practically an unbroken wilderness. He had been privileged to know personally all of the prominent figures of the county of the pioneer period, and his memory of them was vivid and faithful. Few, if any, are left whose memories reached as far back into the forest days as did his. His term as county commissioner, served forty years ago, was marked by upright and judicious service. He had high ideals regarding public administration and his work as a commissioner conformed to them.
It is a long and extraordinarily interesting life that has closed. The passing of John T. Long removes one of the very last figures that linked the present complex age, with all its amazing inventions and developments, with Howard county as it was in the days before organized government had even been attempted within its borders, before a single public improvement had been started, when it was indeed a part of the "forest primeval." Mr. Long appreciated the length of years given him. All of life he had found well worth living. Loneliness came only when the companion of nearly three-score years was taken. Since then, he had been waiting. He went away serene in a faith that was beautifully old-fashioned.
Source: The Kokomo Daily Tribune, Wednesday December 19, 1928, p1, c7-8.
Transcribed by NLColes on 8/12/13.
JOHN T. LONG, DEAN OF SURVIVORS OF PIONEER PERIOD, PASSES AWAY
Dies at Age of Ninety at Home in West Middleton – Had Lived in County Eighty Eight Years – Played with Indiana Children and was Favorite of Indian Chief – Served Term as County Commissioner – Real Survivor of Early Settlement Days.
John T. Long, age ninety, a resident of Howard county eighty-eight years, a former county commissioner from the Second district, a man who, in his childhood, played with children of the red men at the Indiana village near Indian Springs, five miles west of Kokomo, a pioneer who had spent more years within the borders of Howard county than any other resident, living or dead, died at 11:30 o'clock, Wednesday, at his home in West Middleton, of pneumonia.
Although he was overtaken with a slight stroke of paralysis several months ago and had infirmities incident to extreme age, Mr. Long was comparatively well until a few days ago, when he was attacked by influenza, an epidemic of which has been general over the county for the past two weeks. From this disorder developed pneumonia, from which he sank gradually to the end.
Surviving are three sons, William G., Arthur and Omer Long, all of Kokomo, and three daughters, Mrs. Emma Trabue, of Kokomo, Mrs. Mabel Shutters, residing near West Middleton, and Miss Ethel Long, who made her home with her father and took care of him in his old age. Mrs. Long died in 1921. The venerable couple celebrated their golden wedding anniversary in the autumn of 1913. They were privileged to live together for fifty-eight years.
Born in Marion County.
John T. Long was born in Marion county, August 10, 1838, the son of Thomas A. Long, a pioneer who came into the Wildcat valley in 1840, took a claim near Indian Springs and established his family there. John T. Long was about two years old when this event took place. His childhood was spent in that locality. His playmates were Indian children, and he became a great favorite with the old peace chief, Pete Cornstalk, the most prominent figure among the Indians of that section at the time. Mr. Long remembered the old chief well, as he did also many of the other Indians, all of whom were removed to a reservation beyond the Mississippi when he was yet a small boy.
Thomas A. Long, the father, was one of the most prominent figures in early day Howard county history. He had resided in the Wildcat valley four years, when the county was organized, under the name of Richardville, a designation which was changed in 1848 to Howard. Thomas A. Long was the county's first gun smith, first nurseryman and one of its very first farmers. He was also its first judge, as he was appointed Associate Judge practically immediately after the organization of the county and served in the position seven years. With the possible exception of David Foster, founder of Kokomo, Howard county, in the pioneer period, had no more colorful, resourceful or romantic figure than Judge Thomas A. Long, nor one regarding whom a greater wealth of tradition has been preserved.
To Banks of Little Wildcat.
After a period spent in the Indian Springs neighborhood, Judge Long established himself on a quarter-section of land on the north bank of Little Wildcat, across the stream from the site of the village of West Middleton, which was not founded until long afterward. There John T. Long grew to manhood, acquiring such education as could be obtained in subscription schools of the neighborhood and supplementing it with wide reading. The homestead of his father passed to him, was preserved by him and continued in his title to his death.
In 1863, Mr. Long was united in marriage with Miss Annie M. Havens, daughter of the Rev. George B. Havens, a leading M. E. minister of the period, an uncle of Charles M. Havens, prominent Kokomo newspaper man, who died a year ago. To this union were born the three sons and three daughters who have been enumerated. Several years ago Mr. and Mrs. Long moved to W. Middleton where they lived quietly and reverently, among old scenes and with friends of a lifetime, awaited the coming of life's sunset.
Had Unusual Vigor.
It was John T. Long's good fortune to possess unusual physical vigor till well toward the end of life. His mind, too, retained its efficiency well. He was unobtrusive, but when he could be engaged in reminiscence could unfold a glowing and accurate story of the long gone days when Howard county was practically an unbroken wilderness. He had been privileged to know personally all of the prominent figures of the county of the pioneer period, and his memory of them was vivid and faithful. Few, if any, are left whose memories reached as far back into the forest days as did his. His term as county commissioner, served forty years ago, was marked by upright and judicious service. He had high ideals regarding public administration and his work as a commissioner conformed to them.
It is a long and extraordinarily interesting life that has closed. The passing of John T. Long removes one of the very last figures that linked the present complex age, with all its amazing inventions and developments, with Howard county as it was in the days before organized government had even been attempted within its borders, before a single public improvement had been started, when it was indeed a part of the "forest primeval." Mr. Long appreciated the length of years given him. All of life he had found well worth living. Loneliness came only when the companion of nearly three-score years was taken. Since then, he had been waiting. He went away serene in a faith that was beautifully old-fashioned.
Source: The Kokomo Daily Tribune, Wednesday December 19, 1928, p1, c7-8.
Transcribed by NLColes on 8/12/13.
Dies at Age of Ninety at Home in West Middleton – Had Lived in County Eighty Eight Years – Played with Indiana Children and was Favorite of Indian Chief – Served Term as County Commissioner – Real Survivor of Early Settlement Days.
John T. Long, age ninety, a resident of Howard county eighty-eight years, a former county commissioner from the Second district, a man who, in his childhood, played with children of the red men at the Indiana village near Indian Springs, five miles west of Kokomo, a pioneer who had spent more years within the borders of Howard county than any other resident, living or dead, died at 11:30 o'clock, Wednesday, at his home in West Middleton, of pneumonia.
Although he was overtaken with a slight stroke of paralysis several months ago and had infirmities incident to extreme age, Mr. Long was comparatively well until a few days ago, when he was attacked by influenza, an epidemic of which has been general over the county for the past two weeks. From this disorder developed pneumonia, from which he sank gradually to the end.
Surviving are three sons, William G., Arthur and Omer Long, all of Kokomo, and three daughters, Mrs. Emma Trabue, of Kokomo, Mrs. Mabel Shutters, residing near West Middleton, and Miss Ethel Long, who made her home with her father and took care of him in his old age. Mrs. Long died in 1921. The venerable couple celebrated their golden wedding anniversary in the autumn of 1913. They were privileged to live together for fifty-eight years.
Born in Marion County.
John T. Long was born in Marion county, August 10, 1838, the son of Thomas A. Long, a pioneer who came into the Wildcat valley in 1840, took a claim near Indian Springs and established his family there. John T. Long was about two years old when this event took place. His childhood was spent in that locality. His playmates were Indian children, and he became a great favorite with the old peace chief, Pete Cornstalk, the most prominent figure among the Indians of that section at the time. Mr. Long remembered the old chief well, as he did also many of the other Indians, all of whom were removed to a reservation beyond the Mississippi when he was yet a small boy.
Thomas A. Long, the father, was one of the most prominent figures in early day Howard county history. He had resided in the Wildcat valley four years, when the county was organized, under the name of Richardville, a designation which was changed in 1848 to Howard. Thomas A. Long was the county's first gun smith, first nurseryman and one of its very first farmers. He was also its first judge, as he was appointed Associate Judge practically immediately after the organization of the county and served in the position seven years. With the possible exception of David Foster, founder of Kokomo, Howard county, in the pioneer period, had no more colorful, resourceful or romantic figure than Judge Thomas A. Long, nor one regarding whom a greater wealth of tradition has been preserved.
To Banks of Little Wildcat.
After a period spent in the Indian Springs neighborhood, Judge Long established himself on a quarter-section of land on the north bank of Little Wildcat, across the stream from the site of the village of West Middleton, which was not founded until long afterward. There John T. Long grew to manhood, acquiring such education as could be obtained in subscription schools of the neighborhood and supplementing it with wide reading. The homestead of his father passed to him, was preserved by him and continued in his title to his death.
In 1863, Mr. Long was united in marriage with Miss Annie M. Havens, daughter of the Rev. George B. Havens, a leading M. E. minister of the period, an uncle of Charles M. Havens, prominent Kokomo newspaper man, who died a year ago. To this union were born the three sons and three daughters who have been enumerated. Several years ago Mr. and Mrs. Long moved to W. Middleton where they lived quietly and reverently, among old scenes and with friends of a lifetime, awaited the coming of life's sunset.
Had Unusual Vigor.
It was John T. Long's good fortune to possess unusual physical vigor till well toward the end of life. His mind, too, retained its efficiency well. He was unobtrusive, but when he could be engaged in reminiscence could unfold a glowing and accurate story of the long gone days when Howard county was practically an unbroken wilderness. He had been privileged to know personally all of the prominent figures of the county of the pioneer period, and his memory of them was vivid and faithful. Few, if any, are left whose memories reached as far back into the forest days as did his. His term as county commissioner, served forty years ago, was marked by upright and judicious service. He had high ideals regarding public administration and his work as a commissioner conformed to them.
It is a long and extraordinarily interesting life that has closed. The passing of John T. Long removes one of the very last figures that linked the present complex age, with all its amazing inventions and developments, with Howard county as it was in the days before organized government had even been attempted within its borders, before a single public improvement had been started, when it was indeed a part of the "forest primeval." Mr. Long appreciated the length of years given him. All of life he had found well worth living. Loneliness came only when the companion of nearly three-score years was taken. Since then, he had been waiting. He went away serene in a faith that was beautifully old-fashioned.
Source: The Kokomo Daily Tribune, Wednesday December 19, 1928, p1, c7-8.
Transcribed by NLColes on 8/12/13.
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