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biography from Portrait & Biographical Album of Mahaska Co., Iowa, 1887
JOHN LONG, brick and tile maker, of Oskaloosa, was born in Yorkshire, England, Dec. 12, 1812, and is a son of Christopher and Ann (Dunning) Long, who were the parents of six sons, viz: William, who came to America in 1838, but has never been heard from since; Robert, of Durham, England; Thomas and Christopher, of Yorkshire, England; James, who died in infancy; and the subject of this sketch. John Long came to America in 1868, landing in the city of New York, August 30, and going immediately to Schuylkill County, Pa., where he engaged in the manufacture of brick for three years. In 1871 he came to Iowa on a tour of inspection of this beautiful land, but returned to Pennsylvania, where he remained until 1876, during which year he came to Oskaloosa and engaged in the manufacture of brick and tile, and was the first manufacturer of the latter commodity in this county. Mr. Long was married in England, Aug. 30, 1838, to Miss Elizabeth Dowson, who was born in Yorkshire, April 30, 1820. By this union there were nine children, six sons and three daughters, seven of whom are living: William was killed in a coal mine in Schuylkill County, Pa.; John D. lives at Oskaloosa; Ann is the wife of James Roberts, of Cheyenne County, Kan.; Edward is living in Schuylkill County, Pa., and is a minister of the Methodist Episcopal Church; Mary is the wife of Dr. A. Elder; Thomas is a member of the firm of Long & Son, of this city; James died in England in 1879; Henry is a resident of this county; Hannah is the wife of Joseph Gesford, carpenter and joiner, also of this county. Our subject and wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, where all of the family worship. Mr. and Mrs. Long have lived together over forty-eight years, enjoying in all these days good health and a reasonable degree of prosperity. They are estimable people, and are regarded with respect and esteem by all who know them.
Portrait & Biographical Album of Mahaska Co., Iowa, 1887
Mahaska County, Iowa Genealogy