Bassett Family Association Database

William Ferguson Longley

Male 1814 - 1887  (72 years)


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  • Name William Ferguson Longley 
    Born 6 Aug 1814  Hawley, Massachusetts Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Gender Male 
    Died 27 May 1887  Cobden, Illinois Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Notes 
    • HISTORY OF ALEXANDER, UNION AND PULASKI COUNTIES
      1883 ILLINOIS

      William F. Longley, retired farmer, P.O Cobden, was born in Hawley,
      Mass., August 6, 1814, and is a son of Edmond and Olive (Field) Longley. He
      was one of three brothers, all of whom served in the war of 1812, and their
      father, Edmond Longley, was a Revolutionary soldier. He moved to Hawley,
      Mass., when a young man, and lived there until his death, which occurred at
      the age of ninety-six years. He raised a family, all of whom settled within a
      mile of the old homestead. They were of the old Plymouth stock of Longleys.
      Our subject remained in Massachusetts until twenty-one years of age, receiving
      his education there mostly, and in 1835 going to Ohio for the purpose of
      taking a full course at Oberlin College; but his eyesight failed and he was
      compelled to forego it, and after teaching a couple of terms in Ohio he
      returned to Massachusetts and taught there for a term. Engaged in the fall of
      1837 in general merchandising in the town of Hawley, in partnership with his
      brother Freeman. He was appointed Postmaster at Hawley, Mass., March 3, 1838,
      an office he held about six years, being all the time in business there. He
      sold out and removed to Albany, N.Y., and three or four years later to
      Sterling, N.Y., and after several changes of business he was again appointed
      Postmaster, April 27, 1849, at Sterling, N.Y., which he held for four years.
      His father's age and feebleness called him home, and he sold out his
      mercantile business and returned, where, for one and a half years he carried
      on the farm. His father dying, he went to Wisconsin and there bought a farm,
      remaining on it for eleven years. In January, 1866, he came to this county and
      settled on a farm. He and Mr. Linnell went into partnership in fruit-raising.
      This was continued, with some changes, until 1879, when Mr. L's health failed,
      and he took his present place as Assistant Cashier in the bank of Mr. Linnell,
      and Assistant Postmaster of Cobden. Mr. Longley was married in Massachusetts,
      December 5, 1838, to Miss Lydia S. Bassett, a daughter of Thomas Bassett. She
      was born in Ashfield, Mass., October 19, 1820. She is the mother of four
      children, all of whom are living - Julia Ellen, now Mrs. David D. Le
      Pawnee City, Neb., Isabella, now Mrs. L.T. Linnell, of Cobden; Fannie S., now
      Mrs. Herbert Dwinnell, of Wisconsin, and William E., living in Chicago. Mr.
      and Mrs. L. are members of the Presbyterian Church of Cobden. In politics, he
      was a Whig, but is now identified with the Republican party.
    Person ID I05707  1A William Bassett of Plymouth
    Last Modified 23 Sep 2011 

    Father Edmund Longley,   d. Deceased 
    Relationship Natural 
    Mother Olive Field,   d. Deceased 
    Relationship Natural 
    Family ID F02587  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

    Family Lydia Sears Bassett,   b. 19 Oct 1820, Plainfield, Massachusetts Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 12 Sep 1898, Marshall, Minnesota Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 77 years) 
    Married 5 Dec 1838  Hawley, Massachusetts Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Children 
     1. Julia Ellen Longley,   b. 10 May 1841,   d. 28 Oct 1922, Claremont, California Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 81 years)  [Natural]
     2. Isabella Augusta Longley,   b. 17 Nov 1843,   d. Deceased  [Natural]
     3. Fannie Sears Longley,   b. 27 Apr 1851,   d. 6 Apr 1921, Alvin, Texas Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 69 years)  [Natural]
     4. William Edmond Longley,   b. 29 May 1852,   d. Deceased  [Natural]
    Family ID F02586  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart