DAVID LONG. None but the old pioneers and their families know of the toil and the hardships undergone by the early settlers of the country, and none have experienced more of these than the subject of this sketch, who is the oldest settler in Clay township, Ottawa county. Mr. Long was born in Medina county, April 24, 1830, whence he moved with his parents, in 1836, to Hardin county, where he attended school for a few winter terms in the log schoolhouse of that day, with its puncheon floor, slab seats, and greased paper for windows. The schools were few and far between, and the advantages for learning very limited. In the summer seasons he assisted his father upon the farm. When he was fourteen years old, his father purchased a farm in Clay township, all of which was covered with timber. Here the young lad worked with his brother and father, until attaining his majority, when he started out for himself, buying eighty acres of timber land. He at once set to work clearing of! the trees, planting corn and sowing wheat as fast as the soil was prepared. For many years he had to carry his grain a long distance by ox-team to be ground. After several years of hard struggle and toil, Mr. Long managed to bring his land up to its present high state of cultivation, and is now reaping the benefits of his early labors. On February 20, 1865, he enlisted in Company B, One Hundred and Eighty-ninth Ohio Infantry, under the command of Col. H. D. Kingsbury and Capt. Lakeman, and was at Nashville, Tenn., when he was made cook for his company. He received his discharge September 13, 1865, and returned home, resuming work upon his farm and building a fine residence, barns, and making other needed improvements. On March 13, 1853, Mr. Long was married, at Genoa, this State, to Miss Abbie, a daughter of Andrew and Margaret Snider, of Clay township, and of their union seven children have been born, of whom the following record has been given: (1) David S. was born August 11, 1855, in Clay township, where he received his education; he was married to Miss May Sheets, August 11, 1893, and resides at Coleman, Mich., where he is engaged in the manufacture of potash; they have one child. (2) Sarah A., born January 31, 1858, was educated in Genoa; in 1875 was married to A. Shantan, and they had one daughter, Priscilla Shantan; after three years' married life Mr. and Mrs. Shantan separated, and September 4, 1895, she married Charles Reef, who is doing business in Toledo. (3) Harriet A., born November 28, 1862, was married April 24, 1882, to John Englehart, a manufacturer of potash at Woodville, Sandusky county; they are the parents of six children—Lizzie, Laura, Frederick, Charles, Clarence and John. (4) Mary S., born February 5, 1866, was educated in the public schools of Clay township, and was married December 23, 1886, to Edward Schneider, who was born in Cleveland, Ohio, March 7, 1864; he is a son of Frederick Schneider, a cooper, and after attending school there for some years, learned the coopering business, afterward taking up that of stave cutting; he is now working his father-in-law's farm; three children have been born of this union— Frederick D., born May 6, 1888; Abbie C., born December 8, 1889; and Earl C., born January 21, 1894. (5) Charles A. Long was born August 8, 1870, in Clay township, where he attended school; he was married, March 12, 1895, to Miss Rosie Sheffield, at Coleman, Mich., where he resides, being employed as engineer in a factory. (6) William Edward was born September 22, 1865, and died in January, 1867; one child died in infancy. Louis Long, father of our subject, was born in Pennsylvania in 1803. came to Hardin, Ohio, and located in Medina county, where he was married to Julia Delong, who was also a native of Pennsylvania. Twelve children were born to them, as follows: David, Jacob, Powell, Catherine, Lewis, May, Joseph, Andrew, Julia, and three who died in infancy. Mr. Long removed to Hardin county, and afterward to Ottawa county, in March, 1846, settling in Clay township, where he carried on farming until his death, in 1874. His wife died four years previous. They were beloved and respected by all who knew them. Andrew. Snider, father of Mrs. David Long, was born in Pennsylvania, where he carried on farming and also weaving. He married Margaret Laudenstine, and to them eight children were born—five sons and three daughters, viz.: Eliza, Sophia, Daniel, Andrew (a sketch of whom is given elsewhere), Henry, Edward, Hannah and Abigail, the latter becoming the wife of our subject. Mr. Snider farmed for several years in Medina county, this State, afterward coming to Clay township, where he died in 1876, his wife passing away in 1882. Francis S. Lutman, nephew of our subject, and who is at present residing with his uncle, was born in Mulberry, Wood Co., Ohio, September 23, 1862, and is the son of the late George L. Lutman, a merchant at Mulberry. Francis studied for the ministry under the tutorship of the Rev. D. Calkins, of Mulberry, but on account of ill health has had to give it up for a time. He hopes soon to be able to resume his studies, and in the meantime has a license to perform ministerial duties. The subject of this sketch held the office of school director for thirty years, and was one of the few who helped to establish his neighborhood. He helped to form the church at East Toledo, and worked for several years in Toledo when it had but a few houses. The family belong to the Lutheran Church, and in politics Mr. Long is a Democrat. Mr. and Mrs. Long are both enjoying a hale and hearty old age, surrounded by their children, able to look after their own affairs, and proud of the development of Clay township in which they have borne an important part.
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