On March 11, 1845, James was born in Clinton, Henry Co., Missouri. He was the son of Allen Long and Katherine Kitty Armstrong. Allen was from Tennessee and Katherine was born in Missouri. They were married in Clinton, Missouri in April 1838. When James was born, Allen was 29 years old and Katherine was age 24.
James was one of twelve children, being the fourth oldest child. He had eight brothers and three sisters. By 1850, the family was living in District 13 in Miller Co., Missouri and included Allen, Katherine and five children. Living with them was also a 20 year old named Andrew Stewart who was listed as a farmer. The two oldest children were attending school, but James was still too young.
According to the 1860 Census, Allen and Kitty were living in Deep Water Township and James and eight of his siblings were there with them. They still had a farm hand living with them, but he was not the same person who had been with them in 1850. James’ older brother, Nicholas, had his own family and lived nearby. On December 17, 1860, he passed away from an unknown cause.
On February 3, 1862, James enlisted at Georgetown in Captain Slocum’s Co., Missouri State Militia. This organization subsequently became Co. H, 7th Missouri State Militia Cavalry. He had blue eyes, light hair, a fair complexion and was five feet nine inches tall. He listed himself as a farmer. James provided his own horse which was valued at $50. On the same date, James’ father, Allen, also enlisted in the same unit. He had a fair complexion, blue eyes, sandy hair and was five feet six inches tall.
On August 16, 1862 James and his father were involved in the fight at Lone Jack. Both of them were wounded and James was sent to the hospital in Jefferson City on August 24. By the November -December Muster Roll James was present for duty. His father was also sent to Jefferson City, then he was furloughed and he finally entered the hospital in Sedalia where he died on October 7, 1862 of the wounds he received at Lone Jack. James continued in service and was always present for duty until he was mustered out on April 20, 1865 as a Corporal. He owed the government $.75 for having lost the wrench and screw driver. Incidentally, James’ younger brother Robert also joined the 7th MSM in August of 1863 and served to the end of the war.
Sometime during 1862, James married Mellissa Howard Taylor in Clinton, Missouri. Mellissa was born in Henry Co., Missouri in 1842 of unknown parents. In 1864, their first daughter, Frances S., was born and in1866 two sons, William and Andrew, came into the world. It is unclear whether these were twins or if one came early in the year and the other came later. In that same year, apparently, Mellissa died and it is not known if her death was related to a child birth. Then, on July 6, 1869, Katherine Long (James’ mother), died at Clinton, Missouri. The 1870 Census showed James and his children were living in Bates County with his brother and his family. James had a Personal Estate Value of $400.
On October 30, 1870, James married Nancy Ann Johnson. Nancy was born on December 25, 1839 in Crawfordsville, Indiana, and was the daughter of Joseph Johnson and Lucinda Jones. Nancy brought a daughter, Lucinda M., with her from her previous marriage. Lucinda had been born in 1865, actually a little after the death of her father. From the marriage of James and Nancy, a son, Charles S., was born on August 26, 1871, followed by another son, Edward, on August 25, 1873 and a daughter, Ida May, on May 2, 1875.
The family moved from Missouri to Nebraska in 1876 and lived in the Syracuse area for six years. After that they moved to a farm about three miles east of Douglas, Nebraska. According to the 1880 Census, James, Nancy, Frances, William, Lucinda, Charly, Edward and Ida May were all living in one household in the Syracuse Precinct in Otoe County, Nebraska. Frances, William and Lucinda were in school, the rest were at home, and James was a farmer. On August 8, 1890, James filed for a Veteran’s Pension and received Certificate no. 906064.
In 1900 James, Nancy and Ed were living in the South Branch Precinct in Otoe County. They also had an eleven year old farm laborer with them named Herbert Olsen. The Longs adopted him. James owned the farm but it was mortgaged and Ed was paying rent. All of them could read, write, and speak English. In 1903 they moved from their farm to the city of Douglas. On June 7, 1907, James refiled or renewed his Veteran’s Pension.
The 1910 Census showed James, Nancy and Edward were living in a home in the Hendricks Precinct of Douglas, Nebraska; James owned the home free and clear. On April 24, 1912, Nancy died and was buried in the family plot in Rosehill Cemetery. A little over three years later, James died on November 17, 1915. His obituary stated that he was “…one of Otoe county’s early settlers he held the high esteem and respect of everyone.” His funeral services were held at the Methodist church, and he was buried along side Nancy in Rosehill Cemetery.