longclark
Transcribed from "An Illustrated History of The Big Bend Country, embracing
Lincoln, Douglas, Adams and Franklin counties, State of Washington",
published by Western Historical Publishing Co., 1904.
CLARK LONG, pioneer, Indian fighter,
farmer, stock raiser, and business man, is now the townsite proprietor
and real estate dealer of Paha, Adams county, Washington, and owns and
operates a large general merchandise establishment.
Born in Luzerne county, Pennsylvania, May
9, 1854, he received his first educational training in a primitive combination
log and stone school house in his native county. Later on his parents
removed to Iowa, where Clark received a little more schooling, but the
greater part of his ample education has been gained by hard service in
the school of experience and work. In 1876 he left home intending
to go to Oregon, but finally found himself in Walla Walla, where he remained
a short time then took up a homestead in Garfield county just in time to
be thrown into the thickest of the cruel Nez Perce War. At an early
stage of the war he joined an organization or company of about one hundred
composed of his neighbors and moved against the savages as a band of cowboys.
The company was in service four months, but Mr. Long left it just in time
to miss the White Bury Canyon battle, and to engage in the bloody battle
of Cottonwood. Returning home he worked his farm until April, 1883,
when he removed to Ritzville, and there engaged in the lumber and general
merchandise business. This he followed until 1891, in which year
he suffered by fire the loss of all he owned. From this great loss
he did not fully recover until the year 1900. Upon the organization
of Adams county, Mr. Long was appointed probate judge of the county, which
office he occupied during three terms. He was nominated for a fourth,
but was unsuccessful at the polls. He was appointed United States
circuit commissioner, which office he held until 1891, at the same time
acting as artesian wells commissioner for the state, an office to which
he was appointed by Governor Semple. In 1900 he purchased the section
of land upon which Paha now stands, and at once launched a boom of the
town. This venture proved successful to such an extent as to place
Mr. Long among the well-to do business men of his county. Ever since
this time he has worked hard and unceasingly for the good of his town and
Adams county.
Clark Long now owns eight hundred acres of
agricultural land in and near the town of Paha, a quarter section of land
in Yakima county, numerous town lots, and one hundred head of horses.
In 1875 occurred the marriage of Clark Long
to Ara A. Saint, daughter of Joseph and Malinda (Price) Saint. Mrs.
Long's father was a native of Indiana and her mother of Pennsylvania.
Her brothers and sisters are Elizabeth, Malissie, Catharine, Lott and John.
Politically, Mr. Long is a Lincoln Republican,
and is active in the local affairs of his party, and is a recognized party
leader.
Clark Long comes of one of the oldest American
families, the history of which is one of interest and romance. His
father and mother were John and Betsy (Perrin) Long, natives of Pennsylvania,
the father of Scotch descent and the mother of English parentage.
They removed to Iowa in 1865, and spent the remainder of their lives in
Grundy county. The father was a mechanic and bridge-builder, and
a number of the bridges of his locality that were destroyed by the confederates
during the Civil War were built by him. His grandfather, Elias Long,
came to America in the early days, served as an officer during the Revolutionary
war, and died about 1857. Our subject's maternal great-grandfather
was Lord Perrin who came to the colony of Massachusetts in the Mayflower
and settled in Connecticut. His son, Calvin Perrin, served under
Commodore Perry during the war of 1812, and died about 1876. 1898
and 1902, respectively, were the years in which Clark Long's father and
mother passed away. They were parents of six children, not including
the son who is the subject of this sketch. They are Perrin, George
W., Elias, Sarah, married to Ellis Girton, Spokane; and Charles and Ezra,
who died while young.
Mr. and Mrs. Long are the parents of twelve
children, Calvin, John C., Leona M., George W., Maud P., Walter L., Hazel,
Eva, Joseph, Grace, and two who died in infancy, Fred and Leonard.
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