Wilson Long, carpenter and farmer, P.O. Irish Lane, was born in Ross township January 13, 1838, where he was also reared and educated. He is the son of Joseph and Margaret A. (Park) Long, both of whom were born in this county, the former December 3, 1812, the latter September 17, 1811. Joseph was a son of Elias and Sarah Long, the former born in Mount Bethel, Northampton county, October 13, 1762, the latter in Huntington township, in August, 1790. Elias was a son of Elias and Betsy Long. They removed from Northampton county in the very early settlement of the place. His family at that time numbered twelve children. They settled in Huntington township, where they owned a large tract of land. Elias, Sr., served his country well and faithfully in the Revolutionary war. He lived to be over eighty years of age. His son, Elias, Jr., began his public career near Harveyville, on a farm of ninety acres. He was a hard-working and industrious man. At one time he owned and operated a distillery. Politically, he was a staunch Whig, and a man of leading influence in his neighborhood. He died in 1853, aged ninety-one years. Elias Long was married twice, by which marriages there were born to him sixteen children, all of whom grew to maturity. Joseph Long, his son, began his active life in Huntington township, also as a farmer, where he owned thirty-five acres of land. In 1850 he removed to Ross township where he built a log house which stands today (1892), and he confined himself to agricultural pursuits. He was a man much respected by all. Mr. Long died in 1884, aged seventy-two years. There were nine children born to him, seven of whom grew to maturity and are now living.
Wilson Long is the eldest of the family. In early life he learned the carpenter’s trade, at which he has since worked in conjunction with farming. June 27, 1861, he was mustered into the service of the United States as a private in Company F, Seventh Pennsylvania Reserves, Thirty-sixth in line, for the term of three years. He took part in all the leading battles of the army of the Potomac till that of the Wilderness, where he was made a prisoner of war. He was confined in Andersonville from May to August, then removed to Florence, S.C., where he remained till December 31, when he was released. His term of service was almost four years, and during this time he was never marked unfit for duty. On February 27, 1865, he received an honorable discharge with the rank of corporal. On his return to citizenship he confined himself to his trade, residing in Wilkes-Barre, where he worked for eight years. In 1861 he bought his fathers old place, and made it his home ever since. Mr. Long is a member of the G.A.R.; has served three years as jury commissioner, and has also held various township offices. He is unmarried. Margaret A. Park, the mother of Wilson Long, is a daughter of Joseph and Martha Park, the former born October 23, 1757, the latter November 6, 1767. They removed to this county about 1810, locating in Sugar Loaf township, and afterward removed to Huntington township. There were thirteen children born to them. Joseph Park died in 1844, aged eighty-six; his wife, in 1852, aged ninety years. They were prominent people in their township.1
