Biography of Owen Delong

Owen Delong
Company D
1847-1880

Owen Delong was born October 23, 1847 in Guernsey County, Ohio to John Francis Delong, Jr. and Julia Ann Turner. He was the first-born child of nine children, having three sisters (Julia Ann, Cecelia, and Melissa) and five brothers (Charles, Richard, Jerome J., Isadore Francis, and James Sebastian).

Owen was a farmer when he enlisted in the Union Army on February 27, 1864. He mustered into Company D of the 60th Ohio Volunteer Infantry on March 9, 1864 for a period of three years. There is conflicting information relating to his rank. He may have either been a private or a sergeant. After only two months, he was wounded in the battle of Mary's Bridge, Nye River, Virginia. He was sent to the hospital in Washington, D.C. He also spent some time in the hospital at Camp Chase, Ohio due to a skin disorder called purpura.

On August 13, 1864, Owen returned to duty. He participated in the following actions:

Weldon Railroad August 19, 1864

Yellow House August 21, 1864

Reams Station August 24, 1864

Poplar Grove Church September 30, 1864

Pegram Farm October 1, 1864

Squirrel Level Road October 2, 1864

Hatcher's Run October 1864

Nottaway River December 10, 1864

Fort Steadman March 25, 1865

Petersburg Front April 2-3, 1865

Owen mustered out with his Company on July 28, 1865.

Owen married Sarah Jane McConaughy on August 7, 1873 in Noble County, Ohio. He was married by W. F. Howe. Five children were born to this union: Joseph Patrick in 1874, Mary Genevieve in 1874, Sarah Matilda (Tilly) in 1875, Ida Irene in 1877, and Alice in 1879.

Pension records indicate that Owen was badly affected by his wound. Apparently, it became so painful that he became mentally unbalanced. In a moment of non-comprehension, he hanged himself. He died March 27, 1880 in Ohio and was buried in St. Mary's Cemetery, which is two miles West of the Church in Temperanceville, Belmont County, Ohio. The original grave marker was badly weathered. The marker was replaced in 1994 by the Veterans' Administration at the request of the great grandson, Louis W. Smith.

Owen's wife, Sarah Jane, died the following year on June 24, 1881. She left behind five small children. The children were later placed with relatives, one being Charles Delong who was Owen's brother and became the children's legal guardian. Sarah Jane's grave site is not known, but one source indicates she may have been buried at St. Mary's Cemetery in Wood County, West Virginia.

A special thanks to Lou Smith for contributing this information. Owen Delong was his great grandfather.