Long - Oath
Source: History of Montgomery County, Indiana. Indianapolis: AW Bowen, 1913, p 1230.
No pioneer who braved the wilds of Montgomery County three-quarters of a century ago is deserving of remembrance by his descendants and those who came after to share the fruits of the strenuous labors of these self-denying and self-sacrificing men more than Oath Long, who, although, long a sleeper in "death's garden where we all shall meet," yet has an influence for good and whose life of industry and honesty is worthy of imitation by the youth who would succeed at his chosen life task and at the same time do some good while passing through this so-called "mundane sphere."
Mr. Long was born in Pennsylvania on December 13, 1794, and was a son of Gideon and Elizabeth Long, both natives of England, and as all records were long ago lost no date can be had of them, except that they emigrated to America in colonial days and spent some time in Pa, later invading the wilderness of Indiana and establishing the family home in Union Township, Montgomery County, Indiana, where they spent the rest of their lives and died here. Oath Long grew to manhood in Pa, and when 36 in the year 1830, he came to Montgomery county and here determined to cast his lot permanently, for although the country was wild, he had the sagacity to foresee for it a great future and he set to work with a will clearing and improving his 160 acres of land which he entered from the government near Crawfordsville and eventually, became one of the leading general farmers of Union Twp, his fine farm being located about 3 miles from the present county seat.
His were the usual pioneer hardships, privations and experiences of the first settlers in a heavily wooded country where settlers were indeed few, where there were no roads, bridges, stores and where everybody was poor. His death occurred Sept 16, 1877. Politically, Mr. Long was a Democrat and a member of the "old school" Baptist Church.
He was twice married, first to Martha Vail, in Butler County, Ohio where he lived for some time after he left Pennsylvania before coming to Indiana and in that county she died in early life, leaving two children, Louisa and Abram, both of whom have long since passed away. On June 17, 1823, while still living in Ohio, he married Sarah Titus, who was a native of Va, both there on Aug 29, 1801. She was a daughter of Samuel and Polly Titus, who left Virginia for Ohio in an early day, later coming to Montgomery County where they reestablished their home and died here. The death of Mr. Long's second wife occurred Jan 6, 1879. Six children were born to this union: Wilson, born April 24, 1824, married Sarah Ann Newhouse in 1848, and he died on Sept 14, 1889; his wife died May 16, 1907; Lydia born Jan 24, 1824, married W. T. McCoy in 1849 and they are both deceased; Samuel T., born Nov 23, 1838, died Dec 8, 1911; Huet, born Nov 25, 1832 is now living in Darlington, Montgomery County; William, born Oct 16, 1835, lives on a farm east of Crawfordsville; Benjamin lives in Crawfordsville. -- typed by kbz