My Genealogy Hound

JAMES L. De LONG, real-estate dealer, and vice-president of the Board of Underwriters, McKeesport, was born at Macksburg, Washington county, Ohio, January 10, 1845. He worked at home with his father, Isaac H. De Long, who was a farmer and tanner, until the age of eighteen years, when he enlisted in Company B, Seventy-seventh Ohio Veteran Volunteer Infantry, and served his country for two years, until the close of the war, when, returning home, he found his father and mother both dead and the farm gone. At Lowell, Ohio, he worked in a flourmill, and October 4, 1866, was married to Miss Mary E. Hendricks. In 1868 he went into merchandising with Henry Wolf. In 1871 they closed out the store, and Mr. Wolf having bought an interest in a flourmill and farm near Winchester, Va., Mr. De Long migrated with him to that place, and managed the mill for one year, when on account of ill-health he was compelled to abandon the business. The mill was sold, and the two friends removed to Baltimore, where they engaged in the mercantile business on Pennsylvania avenue. In 1873, at the suggestion of J. G. Leezer, Mr. Wolf came to McKeesport, and, as before, Mr. De Long came with him. They bought the stock of goods of John McConnell, and opened their store in the Hartman block, corner of Fifth and Walnut streets. They continued in business under the firm name of Wolf & De Long until October 2, 1877, at which time they were burnt out; and they again began business in the “Red Front,” on Market street. In 1878 they moved to their own building on Fifth avenue, where they continued in business until September 15, 1884, when they sold out. In November of the same year Mr. De Long opened a real-estate and insurance office in the People’s Bank building, and there, up to the present time, has conducted a very successful business. He has served a three-years term as school director; has been notary public since 1877; is a director of the People’s bank; is an Odd-Fellow, and politically a democrat.