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WILLIAM J. LONG, a successful farmer of Harrison township, owns one hundred and thirty acres of land in sections 4 and 9, where he carries on a line of general farming and makes a specialty of feeding hogs. He was born in 1851, in Indiana, and came to Benton county in 1855. He is a son of Woodson P. and Annie (Waddle) Long. Woodson P. Long was born in 1823, in Kentucky, son of John, Long, who was born before the close of the eighteenth century. He moved to Indiana, where he was reared, and his father died when he was ten years old. He remained at home until he reached his majority. In 1855 Woodson Long came by wagon to Benton county, Iowa, and at first rented land. He purchased forty acres, and later one hundred and sixty acres in Polk township; he first carried on the forty-acre farm, and later the one hundred and sixty acre farm. He sold his land and moved to Urbana, where his wife died, and he then sold his interests there. Later he married Tabitha Meredith, and retired; he made several changes of residence, and finally settled in Urbana, where he died in 1907. His first wife came from Kentucky to Indiana, and removed with her husband to Iowa; she died near Urbana, in 1890. Their children were: Nancy Jane, who married (first) II. Brown, deceased, (second) Harry Whipple, deceased, and (third) John Glendy, of Vinton; Cornelius, deceased; John, deceased; William J.; Margaret, deceased wife of B. Holt, of Hamilton county, Iowa; Oliver, of Denver, Colorado; Albert, of Vinton; and Henry, who died about four years since. Emma and Lizzie died in infancy.
William J. Long remained at home until he was of age and then rented land and carried on farming. He removed to Hamilton county, Iowa, where he rented land, returned to Benton county and rented land three or four years longer, and then purchased forty acres of land to which he has several times added. He has made all improvements and carries on the business of the farm in in energetic, able manner, which assures him success. He is greatly interested in public affairs, and is a Democrat; he has served as school director. Mr. Long is a member of the Modern Woodmen of America, and the Modern Brotherhood of America. He also belongs to the Christian church.
In 1872 Mr. Long married Emma, daughter of Daniel Maples, from Illinois, who removed to that state from New York, among the pioneers. Mr. Long and his wife were blessed with children as follows: Charles H., who married Anna Dauthenbaugh and lives in Harrison township; Carrie, wife of Scott Fowler, living near Urbana; Effie, wife of Charles Geiger, living near Urbana; W. W., at home; Vernie, wife of Arthur Chadock, a farmer of Minnesota; and Vena, deceased.
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