Benjamine Long
Status: returned!
If you read the last post on Isaac Long and Effie Showalter, then you might recognize the surname of today’s subject: Long.
When I bought Benjamine Long's photo, I noticed a curious little detail written on the back that sparked a thought in me. The photo is labeled 'Uncle Ben Long'. I took another look at the photo I found of our previous subject, Isaac Long, and put 2 and 2 together. Isaac's photo is labeled 'Cousin Isaac Long.' Whoever wrote these labels was Benjamin's nephew, and Isaac's cousin. My first thought was that Benjamin could be Isaac's father, but that proved false. Either way, they definitely are related - Isaac's true father, William, had a brother named Benjamine (yes, with an E at the end).
I just love finding photos of individuals who are related to each other - not only is it less research to find descendants (they can all go home together!) but it paints such a bigger picture, of a family who once inhabited this world.
In researching this dapper chap named Benjamine, I began where I knew I'd find him: FindAGrave. Benjamine was born August 3, 1849 in Rockingham County, VA to Isaac Long and Eliza Saufly. This Isaac Long, you may remember, was a founding member of the Mill Creek Congregation of the Church of the Brethren.
Benjamine, like his nephew Isaac, married a Showalter - Annie Elizabeth, who was born to Peter Showalter and Magdalene Heatwole.\
Wait, wait, wait. (Yes, I am typing all this while I, myself, read the facts).
Peter and Magdalene were Effie's parents - Effie Showalter, as in Isaac Long's wife. Seems like the Long family were quite smitten with the Showalter girls.
According to the 1900 census, Benjamine and Annie were married in 1896. By 1910, the couple has five children - Lesta, Isaac 'Rufus', Charles, Robert, and Bessie.
I find the family again the 1940 census. Benjamine is 90, living with 68-year-old Annie, and their son Robert. Robert's wife Flossie and their daughter Janice Faye also live with the family.
Benjamine died on December 31, 1943 at the age of 94. He is buried with the other Longs in the Mill Creek Church of the Brethren Cemetery.
While ol' Benjamine's story certainly isn't as interesting as Isaac and Effie's, I've endeavored to find some bits and bobs on W. E. Eutsler, the photographer who took Benjamine's photo sometime in the 1880s, I presume. You can read about him here.