Long, John Benjamin

Born near Douglas, Texas, John Benjamin Long (1843-1924) was the son of William T. and Althea Elizabeth (Payne) Long. He enlisted in the Third Texas Cavalry of the Confederate Army, serving from 1861 through the end of the Civil War in 1865. Afterwards he studied law and passed the bar. Instead of practicing law, Long entered the agricultural profession and served as a delegate to the National Cotton Planters Association at Vicksburg in 1883. Furthermore, he joined the Grange, also known as Patrons of Husbandry, and in 1891 was elected Worthy Master of the Texas State Grange. In the 1870s, Long became a scribe for the Knights and Ladies of Dixie and belonged to several Confederate veteran organizations and farming co-operatives. From 1886 to 1905, he owned and edited the Rusk Standard Herald . A fervent democrat, Long served in the U.S. House of Representatives (1891-1893) and in the Texas State Legislature (1913-1915), promoting agriculture, Free Silver, and prohibition.

In 1869, Long married Emma K. Wiggins, with whom he had six children: Walter Ewin, Emma Noble, James Ross, Vernon (Mrs. W. R. Stevens), Isa (Mrs. E. S. Dunn; d. 1912), and Katherine (Mrs. J. B. Posey).

Sources:

Biographical Directory of the United States Congress, s.v. Long, John Benjamin, http://bioguide.congress.gov/scripts/biodisplay.pl?index=L000422 (accessed July 23, 2010).

Handbook of Texas Online, s.v. Long, John Benjamin, http://www.tshaonline.org /handbook/online/articles/LL/flo12.html (accessed July 23, 2010).

Handbook of Texas Online, s.v. Third Texas Cavalry, http://www.tshaonline.org /handbook/online/articles/TT/qkt5.html (accessed July 23, 2010).

John Benjamin Long Papers, 1858-1924, Dolph Briscoe Center for American History, University of Texas at Austin.