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 as 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. Lee, in Pawnee City, Neb.; Isabella, now Mrs. L. T. Linnell, of Cobden; Fannie S., now Mrs. Herbert D. Linnell, 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.
Extracted 26 Jul 2021 by Norma Hass from 1883 History of Alexander, Union, and Pulaski Counties, Illinois, Part V, page 135.
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