My Genealogy Hound

Isaac J. Long, D. D., president of the Arkansas College, located at Batesville, one of the most noted institutions of learning in that State, is of Scotch-Irish ancestry. His paternal grandfather, Joseph Long, was born in Virginia, but in early life removed to East Tennessee and settled on the Holston River, in Hawkins County, where the father of the Rev. Isaac Long, was born and grew to manhood. Dr. Long’s maternal grandfather was Luke Hamilton, of Scotch parentage, but born in the North of Ireland. In early life he emigrated to America and settled on Rocky River, in what was then Pendleton District, now Anderson County, S. C. Isaac Long, Sr., was a lieutenant in Gen. Jackson’s command during a part of the War of 1812, and at the close of that contest he went with his kinsman, Col. Joseph Calhoun, to South Carolina, and settled among his relatives in Abbeville District, then known as “Calhoun Settlement;” but the climate being unfavorable to his health, he soon removed to Anderson, where he was married in 1816, and on May 23, 1844, died from the sting of a poisonous spider before completing his fifty-seventh year, his widow following him in 1848. Rev. Isaac J. Long was the fifth son and youngest child of his parents, and was born near the Savannah River, in Anderson District, S. C., on the 23d of February, 1834. His early life was spent at the home of his parents, and at the time of his father’s death he had only reached the age of ten years. After his mother’s death, four years later, he was left to act upon his own judgment, and immediately began his battle with the world. The only schooling he obtained during his parents’ lifetime was nine months attendance, when in his eighth year, and this was reached after a walk of nearly three miles along a lonely country path. The start obtained in this manner, however, developed a strong desire for an education, and many difficult points were mastered and problems solved by studies pursued at night by the light of pine knots, gathered at the close of the day’s labor. On reaching the age of sixteen years, and squaring up accounts with his fellowmen, he found his worldly possessions amounted to only two suits of clothes and a single barrel shot-gun, worth about $6. Thus equipped he started out to seek fame and fortune. His first engagement was to labor as a common farm hand on a cotton plantation at a compensation of $5 per month and his board, rising at 4 o’clock in the morning and working though the day with the foremost laborer on the place. In this way he saved up enough money to complete his English education. His classical and mathematical course was obtained chiefly at Thalian Academy, in South Carolina, where, in addition to keeping up with his classes, he filled the laborious position of tutor for three hours each day, as a means of defraying expenses. Receiving encouragement and assistance from a friend and pastor, the Rev. David Humphreys, he entered Center College, at Danville, Ky., in 1855, and graduated from that institution with the second honor in a class of twenty-seven gathered from thirteen States. Having chosen the ministry (Presbyterian) as a profession, he entered the Theological Seminary at Danville, four days after graduating from college, and remained here for some time enjoying the instruction received from men of national reputation. In 1859 he was selected as one of the principals of the preparatory department of his alma mater, and here began his work as an instructor in ancient languages, in which he has been identified during a large portion of his subsequent life. He was licensed to preach after the usual examinations by the Presbytery of Transylvania, at Lebanon, Ky., on the 12th of April, 1860, and after preaching the gospel for several months, he resigned his position as instructor, and repaired to the Theological Seminary at Columbia, S. C., for the purpose of attending the lectures given by the celebrated Dr. Thornwell, professor of theology at that institution. He entered in October, 1860, and remained a portion of that winter and spring, expecting at the close of the session to return to Kentucky, but the Civil War beginning in the spring of 1861, thwarted all his plans. He then accepted a call to the pastorate of Concord Presbyterian Church, in Sumter County, S. C., and was ordained and installed by the Presbytery of Harmony, October 31, 1861. At the outbreak of war, although strongly opposed to secession, yet believing that his allegiance as a citizen was due primarily to the State, his fortunes were cast with the Southern Confederacy. He served for a time as an independent volunteer chaplain, accepting neither commission nor compensation from the government. Dr. Long founded an academy at Batesville, by employing teachers and boarding them partly without compensation, and giving a part of his own time to the work. This formed the nucleus from which the Arkansas College was organized, in the fall of 1872, and of which he was elected the first president, with the professorship of ancient languages and moral science, holding this position at the present time, besides preaching regularly to his pastoral charge. This institution has been pressed forward by Dr. Long’s perseverance in the face of many discouragements and difficulties incident to such an undertaking, until it has achieved a success almost unprecedented. He was married at Itonia, S. C., on August 30, 1859, to Miss Callie Penelope, second daughter of the Rev. J. L. Kennedy, A. M., a widely-known and eloquent Presbyterian clergyman, who was also an eminent classical teacher in the northwestern part of South Carolina, and at one time professor of mathematics in Oglethorpe University, Georgia. Mrs. Long is of Scotch Irish descent, and a relation and namesake of Mrs. William Preston, of South Carolina. Dr. Long and his wife are the parents of seven children, six sons and one daughter, of whom three sons died in infancy. Eugene R. was born in Sumter County, S. C., December 10, 1862; the only daughter, Irene, was born October 3, 1864; Ross K., born June 12, 1871, and Mack H., born July 24, 1873. Dr. Long is a thoughtful, deliberate speaker, and a profound theologian and logician. In addition to his labors here as a minister, he has founded and conducted the Arkansas College, at Batesville, of which he has been president since its commencement. He is a thorough educator, and many young men and women of Batesville and elsewhere have abundant reason to feel grateful that they were placed under his care. He is one of the most useful men in the community, and one whom the people greatly appreciate.