My Genealogy Hound

David Long, a substantial stock raiser of Knox County, was born February 17, 1825, in Mason County, W. Va., and is the eldest child of Alexander and Catherine (Teager) Long. [See sketch of Reuben Long.] Our subject was educated at the common schools of his native county, and at the age of twenty-one settled upon a farm in Mason County. March 4, 1847, he was married to Elizabeth, daughter of David and Catherine (Sebral) Somerville, who was born in April, 1826, and by whom he had eleven children, nine of whom are living, viz.: William J.; Mary C., wife of H. T. Howerton; Martha J., wife of Robert Howerton: Margaret A., wife of William Shelton; Virginia, wife of Benjamin Chester; Benjamin F.; Frances, wife of William Campbell; Sarah Elizabeth, wife of Ralph Campbell, and Susan E. When our subject first settled in Knox County he located in the heart of the prairie, in a sparsely settled country, but has improved his land, and now owns, as the result of his labor and good management, a fine farm which, before he divided it with his children, consisted of over 3,000 acres of well-improved land. He now owns 1,500 acres, 1,000 acres being in one tract. Mr. Long is a self-made man, and is rightly considered one of Knox County’s eminent and substantial citizens. He is one of the largest land owners in the county, and an extensive dealer in stock, and handles annually over 100 head of cattle. In politics he is a Democrat, and cast his first presidential vote for Lewis Cass in 1848. Although an active politician, he has never aspired to public office, and has always refused to run for same. He and his wife and several children are active members of the Christian Church.