Union County Pioneer Died Saturday Evening
Jacob Long, an aged man, and well known pioneer resident of Elgin and Union County, died at his home in this city, Saturday evening, January 21, 1911, after an illness of only a few days. Death was due to old age more than any other cause. The funeral services were conducted in the Presbyterian Church Wednesday afternoon at 2 o’clock by Reverend H.L. Willis and the interment followed immediately in the City Cemetery. The remains were placed in an air tight casket and placed in the stone vault which the deceased had erected several years ago for himself and members of his family.
The funeral was largely attended by a concourse of relatives, friends and old pioneers.
Jacob Long was born in Harrisburg, PA, May 18, 1822 and was 88 years, 8 months and 3 days old at the time of his death. when a small boy he moved with his parents to Ohio, where he met and married Miss Hannah Waybill in the year 1845. To this union nine children were born, six of whom survive him.
In 1855 deceased moved to Iowa, where he resided until 1864, when he joined the ox team caravans in a trip across the wild plains to Oregon. he arrived here the same year and settled in the Willamette valley. During the early days there he followed his trade of blacksmithing and made many plows and other implements for his neighbors and friends.
In 1871 he moved to Indian valley and located near the present site of Elgin. In 1879 his wife and companion of many years died.
In 1901 he was married to Mary A. Sturgill, who with the six children are left to mourn his death. No children were born to the last union. The surviving children are John Long of Colfax, Wash., Allen Long and Mrs. Chas Hallgarth of Elgin, OR., Mrs. John Leobo of Lebanon, OR., Mrs. Frank Ten Broeck of Haines, OR., and Miss Irene Long of Elgin, OR. Aside from these children, deceased leaves 41 grandchildren and 57 great-grandchildren, a record seldom equaled.
Deceased was hale and hearty up to within a few days of his death. He possessed a rugged constitution and was typical of the old pioneers who left their homes in the eastern states during the early days and braved the hardships and dangers of crossing a vast stretch of country to reach Oregon, where each have had an equal share in developing this great state. He raised a fine family of children, who with his many friends, mourn his demise.
Contributed by: Gina Gerking Spiller
Family of Dixie Ricker