My Genealogy Hound

Hon. Matthew Long, one of the prominent and successful farmers of Webster County, Mo., was born in Columbus, Ohio, August 3, 1824, being the son of William and Rebecca M. Long. The father was born in 1781, and died in Columbus, Ohio, in 1851. He built the third house on the present site of Columbus, Ohio, in 1813. Mr. Long’s father was one of the leading men of Columbus for many years, and filled many positions of honor and trust. He helped to make Franklin County what it is. The mother of the subject of this sketch was born in 1791, and died at Columbus, Ohio, in 1861. Hon. Matthew Long received his educational training in the public schools of Columbus, and at Central College, of that county. At the age of eleven years he entered the treasurer’s office of Franklin County, and for six years was deputy county treasurer and collector under his father, spending his winters in the office and his summers in school. For seven and a half years he was a clerk in the book store of Whiting & Huntington, in Columbus, afterward for two years in the same business and at the same place, under the firm name of Randall, Aston & Long. Always having a desire to be a farmer, and his health failing him, he sold his interest in the store and purchased a farm in Licking County, and for ten years followed agricultural pursuits on the farm. In 1863 he removed to Iowa County, Iowa, where he continued farming for ten years. Five years of that time he was president of the Iowa County Agricultural Society. He is a Republican in his political views, and represented Iowa and Poweshiek Counties in the State Senate for a term of four years, to the entire satisfaction of his constituents. In 1873 he removed to Des Moines, Iowa, where for twelve years he was secretary of the State Insurance Company, and under his management it was very successful, having in that time increased its assets over $600,000. In 1884 Mr. Long resigned his position with the State Insurance Company to accept the secretaryship of the Southern California Insurance Company, at Los Angeles, Cal., where he was equally successful. Finding he had overtaxed his strength, after filling this position for over a year he resigned, but was again unanimously elected to the same position, with a large increase of salary and a two months’ vacation. Mr. Long feeling the great need of a change again offered his resignation, which was accepted, and he was then immediately presented by the company with $500 in gold, which was in addition to his regular salary. In 1886 he came to Webster County, settling on his farm of 320 acres, and is now engaged in farming, making Short Horn cattle and Berkshire hogs a specialty. He is also a practical farmer, and is president of the Webster County Farmers’ Club. He was married, in 1846, to Miss Mary Tuttle, a sister of Dr. Tuttle, president of Wabash College, at Crawfordsville, Ind. Mrs. Long was born in New Jersey, November 6, 1821. Four children were born to the union of Mr. and Mrs. Long: William L., Jacob T., Margaret E. and Ellen. Mr. Long is a member of the Masonic fraternity, Royal Arch and K. T. He is a Presbyterian, but as there is no church of his faith in Marshfield, he is now connected with the Methodist Episcopal Church, and is one of the representative men of this portion of Missouri.