My Genealogy Hound

A. S. Long, dealer in general merchandise, Rolla, Mo., and one of the oldest and most extensive merchants in the place, is a native of St. Louis County, Mo., where he was born in 1835, being the son of Joseph and Jane (Martin) Long. The father was a native of Virginia, and when a young man went to St. Louis County, Mo., where he was married. He was not permitted to live the allotted time of man, but was cut down in the prime of life. He died in 1836, at the early age of about twenty-one years. He left a wife and two sons. His widow was born in St. Louis County, Mo., in 1816, and died in 1883. In 1838 she married H. R. Edgar, who is yet living, and is ninety years old. He lives in Maries County, Mo., Mrs. Edgar being the mother of five children by her second marriage. Albert S. Long was the eldest of the two children born to the first marriage. He was an infant when his father died, and in 1836 he moved with his mother to Maries County, Mo., where she located and passed the remainder of her days. A. S. obtained his growth on the farm, and gave the proceeds of his labor to his step-father until he was nineteen years old. He then left home and went to the Meramec Iron Works, working on a farm for two years at very small wages. After two years he entered the store of William James as clerk, to learn the business of selling merchandise. April 23, 1857, he was married to Nancy Fort, daughter of Sarah and William Fort, a native of Ross County, Ohio, born September 10, 1840. The result of this marriage was five boys and one girl, four boys and one girl deceased. Edwin is still living. In 1862 Mr. Long went to Rolla, where he worked for Faulkner & Graves for four years. In 1866 he engaged in business on his own account, with D. W. Malcolm and A. Demuth as his partners, but sold out to them in 1869, and embarked in the manufacture of wagons with Mr. Ginish. In 1870 Mr. Long established a general merchandise store on his own responsibility, commencing on a small scale, but year after year he added to his business, until today he is one of the leading merchants of Phelps County. In 1882 he erected a two-story brick, 90x40 feet, with two stores side by side, both of which he occupies. He carries a first-class stock of goods, clothing, hardware, etc., the stock being valued at $20,000. Although commencing life with limited means, Mr. Long has made a success of all his enterprises, and is today one of the solid, substantial business men of Rolla. In politics he is a stanch Republican, casting his first presidential vote for Bell and Everett, in 1860. He is director and stockholder in the First National Bank of Rolla, and has held this position for the past twelve years. He is a Master Mason, and he and Mrs. Long have been members of the Methodist Episcopal Church for twenty years, in which he has been steward for fifteen years.