W. K. LONG, one of the best-known business men of Washington and second to none in popularity, in the county, as a dealer in footwear, is a native of Washington, Penn, where he first saw the light November 13, 1835. His father, William Long, was born in August, 1786, in Manheim township, Lancaster Co., Penn., where he learned the wagon maker's trade. About the year 1800 he came to Washington, where he established himself in the wagon making business, which he carried on up to the time of his death in 1848. By industry he amassed a competence, but lost it all through ill advised liberality and misplaced confidence in human nature. He was a member of the Lutheran Church. In 1822 he married Miss Catherine, daughter of John Krider. (This John Krider conducted a farm in Canton township, but removed to Illinois, where he was thrown from a horse, receiving injuries from which he died at Fulton, Ill., at the age of eighty-four years.) To William and Catherine Long were born eight children, as follows: Susan, wife of W. W. Davis, of Guernsey county, Ohio; Nancy, John and Catherine (all three deceased--John at the age of twelve, and Catherine when about eight years old); Mary, wife of Jesse Allen, in Knox county, Ohio; W. K., our subject; Eliza, wife of J. O. Vankirk, in Franklin township; and Ellen, married to J. J. McWilliams, near Edinborough, Erie Co., Penn. The mother of this family died in 1872, at the age of seventy-five years, while staying at the house of her daughter, Mrs. W. W. Davis, then living in Canton township. W. K. Long received his education at the public schools of the place of his birth, and grew to manhood on the John Coulson farm. In August, 1862, he enlisted in Company F, Fifteenth Cavalry (Anderson), in which he served until June, 1865, when he was honorably discharged. He was with the army of the Cumberland, participating in its almost innumerable battles and skirmishes, but came through without a wound, although at the battle of Sandridge, Tenn., he had a horse shot under him. He was sick for several months, in 1863, at Nashville, Tenn. On his discharge he returned to his native county, and remained in Buffalo township until 1866, when he came to Washington and clerked for Warrick Bros., grocers and millers, until 1875, in which year he entered into partnership with G. M. Warrick & J. M. Wilson, grocers, and at the end of two years they opened out a shoe store where Mr. Long is now established, the partnership in both industries continuing until July, 1889, when it was dissolved, our subject carrying on the boot and shoe business alone. In November, 1872, Mr. Long married Elizabeth, daughter of Jonathan T. Warrick (a sketch of whom will be found elsewhere), by which union there are two children--Mary L. and William W.--both at home. The family are members of the First M. E. Church of Washington. Politically, Mr. Long is a Republican.

Text taken from page 282 of: Beers, J. H. and Co., Commemorative Biographical Record of Washington County, Pennsylvania (Chicago: J. H. Beers & Co., 1893). Transcribed February 1998 by Sherry Norton of Anaheim, CA as part of the Beers Project. Published February 1998 on the Washington County, PA USGenWeb pages at http://www.chartiers.com/.

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