My Genealogy Hound

M. C. Long, an enterprising business man of Jamestown, Independence County, is a dealer in general merchandise, farm implements, etc., and is also postmaster. He was born in McMinn County, Tenn., in 1851, and is a son of William R. and Susan C. (Scoggin) Long, natives, respectively, of Tennessee and North Carolina. They were married in the latter State in 1850, and subsequently in 1857 removed to Independence County, Ark., where Mr. Long died in March, 1889. Mrs. Long is still living, and is about fifty-eight years of age; the former was a tanner by trade in early life, but afterwards turned his attention to farming. He served a short time in the Civil War. He is a son of Moses Long, a native of Tennessee, who died in that State in 1880. The parents of our subject were both members of the Baptist Church. They had ten children (six living), of whom M. C. was the eldest. The latter attended the common schools and one year at high school in Houston, Mo., after which he taught one year in Texas, with which exception he has lived in Independence County since six years of age. In 1875 he married Ruth A., daughter of William and Emeline Jessup, the former a native of Indiana, and the latter of North Carolina. They lived several years in Greene County, Mo., and soon after the war removed to Lawrence County, thence to Independence County, where Mr. Jessup died in June, 1889. He was a blacksmith, and served as justice of the peace several years in Missouri. Mrs. Jessup is still living. Mrs. Long is a native of Missouri. Mr. Long engaged in farming a short time after marriage, and, then in 1878, established a grocery in Jamestown, in connection with which he taught school. In 1882 he enlarged his stock, and now keeps a general stock of merchandise, valuing the same at about $4,000. In 1878 he was appointed post-master, which position he still holds. He served two terms as mayor of Jamestown, and is one of the most influential citizens of the place. Mrs. Long is a member of the Baptist Church. They have five children, and the family is most highly respected by all who know them. The great-grandfather of Mr. Long, George Long, was a native of Virginia, where he probably spent his life; he was a prominent Baptist minister.