Longman

MILLINGTON, TOWNSEND, DIVELBESS, WHITEHEAD, GROW, OWENS, JOHNSON

Posted By: Lynn Diemer (email)
Date: 10/11/2015 at 15:34:24

Alfred Longman was born in Derbyshire, England, Dec. 12, 1821, married Ann Millington March 5, 1842. She was born February 13, 1822. They left England in January 1851, sailing across to New Orleans and coming up the River to St. Joe, Missouri, where they spent nearly two years, and then moved to the Grove, arriving May 12, 1853, and Mr. Longman often enjoyed relating the severe frost that welcomed him on the morning of the 13th of May 1853. He bought a claim, the W 1/2 NW 1/4 section 13, being the Twitchel cabin and sold the claim to Stuart Alexander in 1854, and improved a home on SE 1/4 of NW 1/4 of Sec. 13, with the usual log cabin, selling in 1856 to William BATES, then moving to the farm of Jas. B. McCurley in Sec 30, just south of Logan's present site.

He also acquired a large farm on the south line of Jefferson and north line of LaGrange, near mouth of Harris Grove Creek, which he owned until a year prior to his passing. In 1861 he fitted out several wagons, loaded with goods, and drawn by oxen, and crossed the plains to Salt Lake, where they tarried a short time, and then went to California, spending two or three years, then returned by Isthmus of Panama to New York, and back into the same McCurley log house on NW1/4 of section 30, Jefferson Township.

In 1854, Mr. Longman split 2500 rails for the first cow that he owned in this county, valued at $25.00. Mr. Longman dug many hundred rods of ditch fence in those pioneer days, enclosing lands he farmed. He was a successful and trustworthy breeder of Durham cattle and rendered his community a great service in improving the standard of cattle. About 1870 he moved to his farm in Sec 36, Twp. 79, Range 43, but in Jefferson Township, where he added to his land holdings, and conducted his fine stock business. In 1884 he moved to Logan, spending his last years in a typical English home, surrounded by flowers and shrubs, which were ever a delight to him, and responded to his skill and care. Mr. Longman for many years in later life was handicapped by deafness, but was a delightful companion, well informed, enjoyed an argument, and it was well for the one entering into discussion with him to be amply fortified by facts in support of their contention.

The faithful wife passed into rest June 22, 1903, and Mr. Longman November 4th, 1914.

Children:
James married Melissa Townsend
Fanny married Benj. A. Divelbess
Alfred married Mollie Whitehead; Tillie Grow
William C. married Margaret Owens
G. Henry married Margaret Johnson

Source: Pioneer Histories of Harris Grove, 1920