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Rev. Isaac Long

(1777-1856)

LONG, Peter, ed., The Western Evangelist, Greenville, IL Vol. 9. No. 2, July 1856, pg. 62

OBITUARY – Racoon Valley, P.O. Tenn., May 4 1856

Dear Bro. Long:

I herewith send you an obituary of Elder Isaac Long, who fell asleep in Jesus on the third day fo March 1856. Elder Isaac long was born in the State of Virginia, where it pleased the Lord to call him out of nature’s darkness unto his marvelous light and the glorious liberties of the children of God. He found Baptist church of Christ while young and soon was called to the work to the ministry and about fifty years of his life was spent in preaching the everlasting Gospel of the Son of God. His theme was free grace and experimental religion….. The disease which terminated his existence in this world was most excruciating pain, caused by an eating cancer on his chin, and as his dissolution was fast approaching, he said what I have suffered and do suffer I can never tell, yet said he, "I am certain it will not shorten my days." He bore his pain and suffering with patience and Christian meekness, without a murmur….

Elder Long was about eighty years of age…

I am yours, in tribulation and patience.

Samuel D. Branson.

LONG, Peter, ed., The Western Evangelist, Greenville, IL., Vol. 9, No. 2, July 1856, p 62

Following the obituary of Isaac Long Peter Long continues)

Since Elder Branson has thought proper to give a sketch of the life of Elder Isaac Long, who survived all his brothers, the editor will perhaps be excused for giving a sketch of the family. This is drawn from his own knowledge, and from information of his father and others. My information extends no further back than my great grandfather, he was by the name of Thomas Long, he emigrated from England and settled in the colony of Pennsylvania, when my grandfather, Edward Long was born. Here he grew up and married Jane Jones, a woman of Welch descent. After they had a small family they moved to the colony of Virginia. They were both belonging and attached to the Church of England, but the Baptists coming about they changed their views and united with them. They were both considered decidedly pious, and Mrs. Long in particular was considered to possess more than ordinary intellect and piety, and was a Shumanite in her family. She felt much of the fervor of religion, and was very solicitous for their spiritual welfare. I will name one circumstance, illustrative of this fact, which I have heard my father relate. Grandmother Long was one night busily employed in her domestic affairs, until looking around her slumbering children, and fresh desires for their eternal welfare awoke in her mind. The reflection struck her with much force, "shall one of these, my children, be forever lot, -- How can I bear the thought?" With this impression of mind she began to implore God but such was the fervor of her mind that at length she wept and cried aloud and awoke the astonished family.

The old people lived to be aged, and died in Virginia – their children, consisting of seven sons and three daughters, chiefly removed to other states. All but two of their children, became members of the Baptist church, and three of them were preachers, to wit, James, George, and Isaac. A short notice was given of James (my father) in the first volume of the Evangelist – he died in 1828, after preaching for thirty years. Elder George Long died in Tennessee some five years ago, at an advanced age, he had been preaching, I suppose forty or fifty years, and Isaac, who survived all his brothers died recently as stated by Br. Branson. Perhaps one of the three sisters yet survive. The branches of the family are numerous and live in many parts of the country – many of them are professors of religion, and several are ministers of the gospels, of the Baptist denomination. Such is a brief and humble tribute paid to numerous and wide spread connection, none of whom we know of, ever attained distinction in the higher circles, but nearly all of whom were respected in the more ordinary and useful walks of life. It should however be remarked before the article is concluded that the three oldest of the seven brothers battled for the country’s freedom in the American revolution, the other four not being old enough to engage personally in that arduous struggle. - Editor