LONG, Marcus L. D. - Putnam

LONG, M.L.D, PO Ladoga; Farmer & Stock Raiser; son of William F. and Rhoda H. CLARK Long, natives of Kentucky; was born in Shelby County, Kentucky November 1, 1832 and came to this county with his mother (his father having died Jan 1834) in August of 1838, with whom he lived after her married to Nicholas WEST, of Putnam County until at age 26 he purchased his present farm on Sec 34. A view of his residence is seen in the Atlas. On Jan 3, 1861 he married Miss Malvina LAFOLLETTE and had one child: Mary Angeline who died at age 3. Mrs. Long's health began to fail in 1874 and she died May 11, 1875. On May 25, 1876 Mr. Long married Miss Lydia E. FRANK of Putnam County.   -- kbz

Marcus D. L. LONG, farmer, Ladoga, son of Wm. D. and Rhoda H. (CLARK) Long was born in Shelby County, Kentucky Nov 1, 1832. In about 1836 he with his mother and infant brother came to this County, his father having died in Jan 1834. His early youth was spent in farming and to a limited extent attending school. Being an orphan boy his education was of a necessity much neglected, but by a rigid observation and wide reading he has become quite familiar and well posted as regards to business and current literature. At about the age of 20 he began life for himself by working out by the month. When 26 he purchased his present home farm, and on January 3, 1861, at the age of 28, he married Miss Melvina LaFOLLETT, who was born January 19, 1839, and died May 11, 1876. One child, the product of this union, is dead. May 25, 1876, he married Miss Lydia E. FRANK, a native of Putnam County, Indiana who was born February 28, 1839. Her parents, Mr. & Mrs.Frank, are both dead. Mr. Long is now the happy possessor of 160 acres of land situated two and one forth miiles east of Parkersburg, on Raccoon Creek, well improved and under a high state of cultivation, and was made and saved by his own hard labor, economy, and close application to business. In June, 1844, his mother married Nicholas WEST, one of Putnam County's well-to-do and influential farmers and stock raisers, respected by all, and revered as one of the leading citizens of the County. But a sad fate was waiting this magnanimous soul. Nov 24, 1864, he was murdered without cause at the hands of Henry L. DICKSON, a brother of Mr. West's first wife. They had been lifelong friends, and knew each other only as brothers. But Dickson had become insane upon the political questions of the day. The presidential election of that year had just been decided. The spirit of every Union man was fired to a flaming heat. The war was still raging in all its fury. The success of the armies was uppermost in every person's mind. The result of battles was discussed in a most ardent manner until every one's mind was filled with excitement. The night referred to above, Dickson had wrought himself up to such a pitch he was ungovernable, while laboring under the hallucination that his democratic friends, on account of his having voted contrary to his former principles, which were democratic, had become his avowed enemies, and that these and the armies of the south were constantly watching him, seeking the destruction of his life and property. His was was a good, honest, earnest christian and as such had many times tried to convert him, until his sanity upon religious topics was sometimes questioned. The evening in question Mr. West was called in to try and quiet him, which he succeeded in doing as far as outward appearances indicated. But about 11 o'clock Dickson, unobserved by Mr. West, drew a revolver and shot him in the abdomen, from the effects of which he died about 6 o'clock the following morning, surrounded by his weeping wife and two stepsons. Dickson was immediately taken before the proper authorities, tried and sent to the hospital for the insane at Indianapolis, where he still remains a hopeless case.   --- kbz