Ancestors of
Clarence Robert Longcor
EARLY LONGCORS
My Fifth Great Grandparents were Johann Wilhelm Langhaar and Anna Elisabeth Miesen. Johann Wilhelm Langhaar was christened 23 Feb 1716 in Rengsdorf, Neuwied, Rheinland, Germany. He was the son of Johann Michael Langhaar and Elisabeth Koecher. Johann died after 1761/1762 in Wantage Twp, Sussex Co., New Jersey. He married Anna Elizabeth Miesen 1 Apr 1740 in Rengsdorf, Neuwied, Rheinland, Germany. She was born 1716 in Germany, and was christened 14 Mar 1716. She was the daughter of Peter Mies and Anna Eva Becker. They had eight children:
1. Margaret Langhaar - b. 1741, d. 1822.
2. Johann Antonius Langhaar - b. 14 Aug 1742, d. 1823.
3. Maria Catharina Langhaar - b. 15 Jan 1745 in Puderbach, Neuwied, Rheinland, Germany, christened 24 Jan 1745 in Puderbach, Neuwied, Rheinland, Germany. Name also found as Longcor and Langhaars. CHRISTENING-IGI: 1994 Edition; Batch # C97941, Christening Extraction, FHL Film # 489927; Evangelisch Church, Puderbach, Rheinland, Germany, Name found as Maria Catharina Langhaars; Father Johan Wilhelm Langhaars, Mother Anna Elisabetha.
4. Johannes Petrus Langhaar - b. 14 Jul 1747 in Puderbach, Neuwied, Rheinland, Germany, christened 23 Jul 1747 in Puderbach, Neuwied, Rheinland, Germany. NAME: Name also found as Longcor.
5. Abraham Longcor - b. about 1750, Morris, New Jersey, d. before 1793.
6. Maria Longcor - b. about 1753 in Morris Co., New Jersey. She married John Hough.
7. Elizabeth Longcor - b. 1755, d. 18 Sep 1813.
8. William Longcor - b. 1759 in German Valley, Morris Co., New Jersey. He married Elizabeth Westbrook. William died about 1844 in Enfield, Tompkins Co., New York. Notes for William: MILITARY-RESIDENCES: Revolutionary War Pension S 13786; Born 1759 in Morris Co., New Jersey, when two years old his father moved to Wantage, Sussex Co., New Jersey; he resided their until after the close of the Revolutionary War; then moved to Ovid, Seneca Co., New York, then to Enfield, Tompkins Co., New York, signed pension papers Sep 1834; one paper states he was 74 or 75 in 1834.
SOURCE NOTES for Johann Wilhelm Langhaar:
• NAME: Langhaar also found as Longcor and Langhar.
• CHRISTENING-IGI: 1994 Edition; Batch # C960471, Christening Extraction, FHL Film # 493419; Evangelisch Church, Rengsdorf, Rheinland, Germany, Name found as Johann Wilhelm Langhar; Father Michael Langhar.
• MARRIAGE-IGI: 1994 Edition; Batch # M960472, Marriage Extraction, FHL Film # 493420; Evangelisch Church, Rengsdorf, Rheinland, Germany; Names found as Johann Wilhelm Langhar and Anna Elisabeth Miesen.
• RESIDENCES: Moved from Morris Co., New Jersey to Sussex Co., New Jersey in 1761, according to the Revolutionary War Record of his eighth child William.
SOURCE NOTES for Anna Elisabeth Miesen:
• NAME: Miesen also found as Mies.
The Langhaar family has been traced back to Johann Georg Langhaar married to Maria Kroeckelsz in Rengsdorf, Rheinland, Germany, 22 May 1679. Johann Georg Langhaar died 4 Jan 1719, Hardert, Germany. Hardert is about two miles from Rengsdorf.
JOURNEY TO PENNSYLVANIA
Little is known of Johann Wilhelm and Anna Elisabeth’s journey from Rengsdorf, Germany to Sussex County, New Jersey. But, for most people of this period, the journey to Pennsylvania fell naturally into three parts. The first part, and by no means the easiest, was the journey down the Rhine to Rotterdam or some other port. Gottlieb Mittelberger in his Journey to Pennsylvania in the year 1750, writes:
“This journey lasts from the beginning of May to the end of October, fully half a year, amid such hardships as no one is able to describe adequately with their misery. The cause is because the Rhine boats from Heilbronn to Holland have to pass by 26 custom houses, at all of which the ships are examined, which is done when it suits the convenience of the custom house officials. In the meantime the ships with the people are detained long, so that the passengers have to spend much money. The trip down the Rhine lasts therefore four, five and even six weeks. When the ships come to Holland, they are detained there likewise five to six weeks. Because things are very dear there, the poor people have to spend nearly all they have during that time.''
The second stage of the journey was from Rotterdam to one of the English ports. Most of the ships called at Cowes.
We do know that Johann Wilhelm Langhaar and family emigrated to America in 1749 on the ship Phoenix, leaving from Rotterdam and stopping at Cowes, England. John Mason was the ship’s master. They arrived at Philadelphia 15 Sep 1749. On the ship’s passenger list, Johann Wilhelm signed his name with a plus (+). There are no other family names on the ship list because women and boys under age 14 were not expected to sign.
EARLY SETTLEMENTS
In his The History of Sussex and Warren Counties, New Jersey, first published in 1881, James Snell recognizes that the Longcor family was among the first whites to live in New Jersey.
“As to the time when the township of Wantage began to be inhabited by the whites, and who the first families were that removed within its borders, no accurate account can be given. It is extremely improbable that there were civilized men there one hundred and fifty years ago, though this fact cannot be stated with positive certainty. Some few families came into the township as early as any settlement was effected at the Forks of the Delaware. Of these were the Cortwrights, Winfields, Deckers, Titsworths, Middaughs, and, Cuddabachs, - perhaps, also, the Westbrooks, Wilsons, and Adams, though the presence of the latter families at this early date is involved in some uncertainty.
It is thought that as late as 1780 there were not more than seventy families in the town. As these families may very properly be considered as ancestors to the rising generation, a catalogue of their names will very appropriately begin this part of our history. It will at least serve as a respectful inscription to their memory and a pleasing relic to their descendants. A threefold division in time will mark with sufficient accuracy the periods when they settled in this region.
1st. Those who were here one hundred and forty years ago or more were the Messrs. Decker, Cortwright, Winfield, Titsworth, Middaugh, Cuddabach, Westbrook, Wilson, Adams, Wyker, Brink, Koykindall, Crowell, Beemer.
2nd. Those who were here one hundred years ago were the Messrs. Strader or Strouder, Criger, Conulus, Snook, Kymer, Bockover, Sebold, De Witt, De Puy, Cox, McCoy, Roloson, Collum, Skellinger, Longcor, Elston, Davenport, Cole, Rittenhouse, Chimers, Ayres, Sayre, Vanfleet, Gomo, Martin, Hains, Swazy, Lewis, Colt, Tims, Rough, Casky, Stephens, Nightengill, Newman, Westfall.
3d. Those whose settlement in this region will range from eighty to one hundred years ago were the Messrs. Vansickle, Swartz, Rutan, Wintermute, Carr, Rogers, Watson, Havens, Phillips, Dunning, Crowell, Comp-”
According to Johann Wilhelm Langhaar's eighth child, William Longcor’s Revolutionary War pension stated the following: When William was two years old (1761) his father Johann Wilhelm, moved from Morris Co., New Jersey to Wantage Twp., Sussex Co., New Jersey.
ABRAHAM LONGCOR
My Fourth Great Grandfather was Abraham Longcor. He had four children. They were:
1. Catherine Longcor - b. 11 Apr 1772, m. 31 Jan 1792, Abraham Middaugh, b. 11 Sep 1772 in Kingston, Ulster Co., New York. Catherine died 06 Jan 1831 in Friendship, Allegany Co., New York. Abraham died 20 Dec 1837 in Friendship, Allegany Co., New York.
2. Henry Longcor - b. 10 Jun 1773 in Wantage Twp., Sussex Co, New Jersey, m. 9 Feb 1797, Wantage Twp., Sussex Co., New Jersey, Catherine Mizner, b. 2 Nov 1770, New Jersey, d. 3 Apr 1857, Milo, Yates Co., New York. Henry died 11 Aug 1851, Milo, Yates Co., New York.
3. Peter Longcor - b. 17 Jul 1774 in Wantage Twp., Sussex Co, New Jersey, m. 26 Feb 1797, Wantage Twp., Sussex Co., New Jersey, Abigail Haines, b. 23 Dec 1777.
4. John Longcor - b. circa 1780 in Sussex Co, New Jersey, m. circa 1802, Sarah Dean, b. 1 Apr 1782, Sussex Co., New Jersey, d. 3 Sep 1833, Milo, Yates Co., New York, bur. Milo, Yates Co., New York. John died 9 Oct 1845, Porter, Van Buren Co., Michigan, bur. Van Buren Co., Michigan.
The information concerning Abraham’s wife has not been verified. Some family members have it that he was married to Elizabeth Frits about 1776 in Oldwick, Hunterdon Co., New Jersey. Morris Co. was formed from Hunterdon Co. in 1739.
PETER AND ABIGAIL
My Third Great Grandparents were Peter Longcor (born 17 Jul 1774 in Wantage Twp., Sussex Co., New Jersey) and Abigail Haines (born 23 Dec 1777). They were married on 26 Feb 1797 in Frankford Twp., Sussex Co., New Jersey by Justice of the Peace Squire Francis Price.
The following record of marriages performed by Squire Francis Price is transcribed from his justice’s docket verbatim:
"1797, Feb. 5. - Then I married Obediah Rozfel to Sarah Harris; Feb. 26, Peter Longcor to Abigal Hains; March 12, Alexander Williams to Julian Hagerty; May 7, Zachariah Price to Sarah Price; June 18, John Putmun to Jane Stull."
Peter and Abigail had thirteen children. They were:
1. Leonard Longcor - b. 16 Nov 1797 in New Jersey.
2. Margaret Longcor - b. 30 Jul 1799 in New Jersey, m. 3 Nov 1819, Rome Twp., Athens Co., Ohio, John Dickey, b. circa 1788, Pennsylvania.
3. Nancy Longcor - b. 12 Oct 1801, m. 22 Aug 1821, Athens Co., Ohio, John Thompson.
4. Isaac Longcor - b. 30 Sep 1803 in Athens Co., Ohio, m. 10 Dec 1829, Athens Co., Ohio, Elizabeth Evans, d. 5 Mar 1845, Elkhart Co., Indiana, bur. Mar 1845, Elkhart Co., Indiana. Isaac died 25 Mar 1845, Elkhart Co., Indiana, bur. Mar 1845, Elkhart Co., Indiana.
5. Priscilla Longcor - b. 4 Jun 1806 in Athens Co., Ohio.
6. Mercy Longcor - b. 4 Mar 1808 in Athens Co., Ohio.
7. Silas Longcor - b. 1 Jan 1810 in Athens Co., Ohio, m. (1) 16 Jun 1832, Athens Co., Ohio, Anna Burroughs, d. circa 1845, Indiana, m. (2) Sarah, b. circa 1842, Maryland.
8. Salem Longcor - b. 14 Dec 1811 in Athens Co., Ohio, m. 10 Dec 1831, Athens Co., Ohio, Sarah Kincade, b. 15 Feb 1813, d. 1 Aug 1901, Yuba City, Sutter Co., California. Salem died 12 Nov 1865, Oregan.
9. Peter Haines Longcor - b. 16 Jun 1814 in Athens Co., Ohio; my Great-Great Grandfather. m. (1) 8 Jan 1839, Elkhart Co., Indiana, Elizabeth Bowman, b. 28 Jun 1823, d. 1 Apr 1865, Bowman Grove, Shelby Co., Iowa, bur. Apr 1864, Bowman Grove, Shelby Co., Iowa, m. (2) 17 Feb 1866, St. Charles, Kane Co., Sarah Rind, b. 29 Oct 1832, Harlan, Shelby Co., Iowa. Peter died 25 Sep 1897, Harlan, Shelby Co., Iowa, bur. 26 Sep 1897, Bowman Grove, Shelby Co., Iowa.
10. John Longcor - b. 20 Jan 1816 in Athens Co., Ohio.
11. Anthony Longcor - b. 21 Jun 1818 in Athens Co., Ohio, m. 29 Aug 1839, LaGrange Co., Indiana, Mary Hughes, b. 18 Apr 1818, Pocahontas Co., Virginia, d. 29 June 1906, Clark Co., Missouri.
12. Washington Longcor - b. 23 Feb 1821 in Athens Co., Ohio, m. 5 Dec 1839, LaGrange Co., Indiana, Margaret Hughes, b. 20 Feb 1815, Pocahontas Co., Virginia, d. circa 1886, Missouri.
13. George Longcor - b. 20 Nov 1826 in Athens Co., Ohio, m. 22 Aug 1849, Adams Co., Illinois, Amanda Howard, b. circa 1831, Virginia.
PETER HAINES LONGCOR
Peter Haines Longcor was one of the oldest volunteers of the Civil War, Company M, 9th Iowa Cavalry (Pension #664276).
A description of Peter's Cavalry Regiment is found in
Iowa in War Times; by S. H. M. Byers; Des Moines, Iowa: W. D. Condit & Co., Publishers, 1888; pages 595-596.
SIXTH, SEVENTH AND NINTH IOWA CAVALRY
"Iowa had three additional cavalry regiments, the Sixth, Seventh and Ninth. The two former took no part in the war proper, as they were sent west to watch the Indians who were threatening the border. The Ninth cavalry entered the service very late, and was stationed in Arkansas, where it remained till the war ended without seeing a battle. This regiment, nearly 1,200 strong, was in fact one of the finest commands in the union service. Its leader, Col. M. M. Trumbull, like very many of its officers and men, had been long in the service with some of the hard fighting regiments. It was fated to spend its days, however, in scouting, in garrison duty, in much hard marching, and in ways that, while arduous and useful, bring little distinction. John P. Knight was lieutenant colonel of the regiment. Edgar T. Ensign, Willis Drummond, Wm. Haddock, John Wayne, and John L. Young were majors. Col. Drummond was brevetted brigadier general in March, 1865. During the whole service of the regiment its headquarters were at Duvall's Bluff, at Little Rock, or its immediate neighborhood. The position was a base for supplies for Steele's army, and was consequently very important. From this base, in all sorts of miserable weather, over the worst roads on the continent, and often through miles and miles of almost bottomless swamps, the Ninth cavalry was forever making scouts and little raids. To every point of the compass from Little Rock, by day or by night, the command would be hurried off on some fruitless expedition, some chase after rebel bands that had just departed, or to protect some point that had just been abandoned. Time and again and weeks at a time the regiment would be divided and detachments sent hither and thither, until Arkansas with its malarious swamps and hideous scenery was as hated by the men as the Rebels themselves.
It was a pity that this great, fine regiment of veteran soldiers and competent officers, should have to spend its energies in ways that produced so little of result. Maj. Edgar T. Ensign, a most competent officer of the regiment, one who was constantly in command of some expeditions or scouts, and, later, brevetted colonel, sent a detailed sketch to the adjutant general of Iowa of the regiment's movements. These movements were so monotonous, however, so barren in results, from the endless scouts and marches, as not to be sufficiently interesting in their history to repeat. The command did the duty that lay before it, and did it well; more than this can be said of no regiment.
Field and Staff Officers of the Ninth Iowa Cavalry.
Colonel - M. M. Trumbull.
Lieutenant Colonel - J. P. Knight.
Majors - E. T. Ensign, W. Drummond, W. Haddook, J. Wayne, J. L. Young.
Adjutants - J. Wayne, W. B. Sherman, L. C. Massie.
Surgeons - J. Wasson, J. Bell.
Assistant Surgeons - E. Kirkup, J. Bell, J. A. Ward.
Quartermasters - J. J. Grant, B. F. Cheney.
Commissaries - W. B. Sherman, G. W. Tilford.
Chaplain - J. W. Larimore."
My Great-Great Grandparents were Peter Haines Longcor and Elizabeth Bowman (born 28 Jun 1823). They were married on 8 Jan 1839 in Elkhart Co., Indiana. Elizabeth Bowman was born in Muskingum Co., Ohio. She was the daughter of Leonard Bowman and Catherine Spicer.
Peter Haines Longcor and Elizabeth had five children. They were:
1. Rossilla Longcor - d. 26 Sep 1864, Bowman’s Grove, Shelby Co., Iowa, bur. Sep 1864, Bowmans’s Grove, Shelby Co., Iowa.
2. Catherine Longcor - b. 24 Nov 1839 in Indiana, m. 14 May 1857, Harlan, Shelby Co., Iowa, John R. McConnell, b. 12 Jan 1834, Logan Co., Ohio, d. 24 May 1908, Botna, Shelby Co., Iowa, bur. Oak Hill Cemetery, Irwin, Shelby Co., Iowa. Catherine died 3 Feb 1871, Shelby Co., Iowa, bur. 5 Feb 1871, Bowman’s Grove Cemetery, Bowman’s Grove, Shelby Co., Iowa.
3. Priscilla Jane Longcor - b. about 1842 in Indiana, m. 25 Mar 1866, Shelby Co., Iowa, Harvey Ingalsbe.
4. Jasper Newton Longcor - b. 10 Dec 1844 in Benton, Indiana; my Great Grandfather. m. 28 Sep 1871, Shelby Co., Iowa, Sarah Maria Kemp, b. 1 May 1853, Sycamore, Dekalb Co., Illinois, d. 1948, Creighton, Nebraska, bur. 1948, Creighton, Nebraska. Jasper died 1 Oct 1931, Royal Nebraska, bur. Oct 1931, Creighton, Nebraska.
5. William Malloy Longcor - b. 16 Dec 1847 in Elkhart Co., Indiana, d. 2 Sep 1919.
Peter Haines Longcor married a second time and to Sarah Rind, 17 Feb 1866 in St. Charles, Illinois. Peter and Sarah had one daughter. She was:
6. Minnie Longcor - b. circa 1866, m. 16 Feb 1892, Shelby Co., Iowa, Jay Vanhusen Brazie, b. 4 Apr 1853, Gilboa, Schoharie Co., New York.
Peter died 25 Sep 1897 in Harlan, Shelby Co., Iowa, at the age of 83, and was burried 26 Sep 1897 in Bowman Grove, Shelby Co., Iowa.
JASPER AND SARAH
My Great Grandparents were Jasper Newton Longcor and Sarah Marie Kemp (born 1 May 1853 and 8-mi west of Sycamore, Dekalb Co., Illinois).
They were married on 28 Sep 1871 in Bowman Grove, Shelby Co., Iowa.
Sarah was Jasper's step sister. Her Mother, Sarah J. Rind, was first married to James Kemp who died of pneumonia 4 Mar 1864 in St. Louis, Missouri. In addition to Sarah Maria Kemp, they also had a son Herbert Clarence, born 1 May 1855, twin boys, Lawrence Hubert and Clarence Herbert, born 14 Jun 1858, and a daughter, Flora Janette, born 10 June 1864.
Jasper and Sarah moved to Nebraska about 1886. The following article was published about them in The Sioux City Journal, April 2, 1928.
"Clock Nearly 100 Years Old Long Has Ticked Off the Hours
for Nebraska Pioneer Who Soon Is 85
______
Royal Man Carries Scars of Wounds Inflicted by Robber
_____
By Mrs. R. J. Hering
(Special Correspondent of the Journal)
Royal, Neb., April 1 - An old clock that has told the hour for two generations and is known to be 90 years old and thought to be 100 or more, is the prized treasure of N. A. Longcor, 84, a farmer living northeast of here.
This clock was used by Mr. Longcor's father and mother when they began housekeeping and was given to Mr. Longcor when he was married. It has been to a repair shop but once, and has kept time steadily. It must be wound once a day. This winding has been attended to by Mr. Longcor himself. In fact he always has taken care of the clock, fearful lest one who did not understand it might make a mistake In the handling. The clock runs by means of a weight on either side and is regulated by a screw on the bottom of the pendulum.
Mr. Longcor is a Hoosier, having been horn in Indiana, in 1844. His father was a tanner and shoemaker. He went to school in a log schoolhouse where slabs were used for seats and desks were built around the sides of the building. Like others of that time, he read out of McGuffy's Reader, studied the Blue spelling book, and Ray's arithmetic. He gleaned his knowledge of geography by singing songs of the different states.
Married to Miss Sarah Kempf, Council Bluffs, in 1871, he came to Nebraska 42 years ago, and tells of a narrow escape from death when he went to file on a homestead in South Dakota. He had his equipment with him in a wagon, and a sum of money. His son had gone a short distance on an errand when a stranger came up, shot him in the back and twice in the head, then searched him, and not finding any cash hunted through the wagon till he found the money, amounting to nearly $100. The thief was captured by the sheriff and sent to the pen. Mr. Longcor still carries the scars.
Mrs. Longcor is a few years younger than her husband and is very active, doing all the housework required on the farm and much more than many younger women. Before her marriage she was a teacher. She has a set of books that were published in 1836, 92 years ago. They were given her by her grandfather.
Mr. and Mrs. Longcor have four children living. They are: Dwight, at home, Mrs. Edith L. Gaer, Creighton, Neb., and Fred and Ralph, in South Dakota. They have 10 grandchildren and one great-grandchild."
Jasper and Sarah had five children. They were:
1. Fred Longcor - b. 25 Oct 1873 and 6-mi east of Harlan, Shelby Co., Iowa, m. Cecilia.
2. Nina Annete Longcor - b. 5 Jun 1876 and 10-mi north east of Harlan, Shelby Co., Iowa, d. 29 Dec 1924, Royal, Nebraska.
3. Ralph Albert Longcor - b. 4 Apr 1878 and 10-mi north east of Harlan, Shelby Co., Iowa; my Grandfather. m. 4 Sep 1904, Clara Carrie Huggins, b. 13 Oct 1877, Cheyenne, Wyoming, d. 16 Dec 1964, Valentine, Nebraska. Ralph died 21 Aug 1965, Valentine, Nebraska.
4. Edith Longcor - b. 1880 in Harlan, Iowa, m. Perry Gaer, b. 1879, d. 1923. Edith died 1951, Wisner, Nebraska.
5. Dwight Longcor - b. 16 Nov 1887 in Keyapaha Co., Nebraska, m. 18 Feb 1937, Vivia Claire, b. 21 Apr 1895, Big Rock, Illinois, d. 9 Jul 1956, Rose, Nebraska. Dwight died May 1974, Creighton, Nebraska.
RALPH AND CLARA
My Grandparents were Ralph Albert Longcor and Clara Carrie Huggins (born 13 Oct 1877 in Cheyenne, Wyoming).
Ralph and Clara were married 4 Sep 1904 and they had three children. They are:
1. Alma Longcor - b. 3 Sep 1905. Alma died 11 Jan 1996, Winner, Tripp Co., South Dakota.
2. Clarence Jasper Longcor - b. 20 Jun 1910; my Father. m. 27 Jun 1939, Clearfield, South Dakota, Mildred Irene Fast, b. 19 Jun 1917, South Dakota. Bill died 14 Oct 1976, Valentine, Nebraska.
3. Ralph Longcor - b. 25 Nov 1912, Todd County, South Dakota, m. 22 Jun 1942, St . Francis, South Dakota, Zeta Grooms, b. 12 Aug 1921, Valentine, Nebraska.
BILL AND MILDRED
My parents are Clarence Jasper "Bill" Longcor and Mildred Irene Fast (born 19 Jun 1917).
The most severe blizzard ever witnessed in the Rosebud area of South Dakota's Great Plains occurred Monday afternoon, January 21, 1952, and continued all day Tuesday with a wind velocity of 50 to 60 miles per hour. Four to six inches of new snow whipped into huge drifts over 20 feet high. As the temperature dropped 37 degrees, many motorists were trapped in their vehicles, teachers and students were stranded in their country school rooms, live stock suffered and died by the hundreds, and many brave survivors were caught without shelter. Dad was one of these survivors. His courage as he waged and won a fifteen hour fight against the elements and himself is documented in "Blizzard Strikes the Rosebud, 1952, Winter of Disaster; compiled and edited by Mrs. Walter Hellman, Millboro, South Dakota; pages 87-91." In his own words, Dad describes how he overcame what was the longest, most horrible night he ever spent in his life.
"DUCKS FOR COMPANY IN A GRAIN BIN
By
Clarence Longcor
The morning of January 21 was cloudy and the temperature was in the thirties. At about 10:30 A.M. a light snow fell, covering the old snow with about an inch of new snow. It stopped snowing in a short while.
According to the weather forecast, a storm was to strike from the northwest but I didn't expect it to be here until evening.
I live one mile north of the Nebraska line and at 12:30 I started to Millboro for supplies. After I left home I had a hunch two or three times to turn back. When I had driven about seven miles I started looking for a place to turn around and then the blizzard struck.
I thought it would let up in an hour or so and I would be able to get part way home and walk the rest of the way. In about thirty minutes it started snowing heavily and there was no let up all afternoon. Visibility was zero and I could not see farther than the ornament on the car hood.
I was wearing a wristwatch so I knew the time of day. About 4:30 o'clock I decided to leave my car and walk to a farm home belonging to Kerr Davis, which was located about a quarter of a mile headed straight into the storm. There wasn't a doubt in my mind that I would not be able to reach the house as for thirty minutes I had been mentally mapping a route and the location of the fences and hi-line posts.
When I reached to open my car door the handle was charged with electricity so strongly that I could hardly open the door. My hand tingled for several minutes afterward.
Walking north, I came up beside another car parked along the hi-way. I was two feet from this car before I noticed it. I could feel the electricity all through my body. I stepped toward the car and could feel the current again. The car had an aerial on it and the hi-line was on one side of the hi-way. I thought perhaps there might be a broken hi-line wire and the fear of being electrocuted was greater than that of freezing to death.
It was necessary to walk north down the hi-way for a little over half the distance and then northwest at a cement corner post toward the house and as nearly as my memory served me, there were four hi-line posts from the cement corner post to the house. I walked on north and by the distance I judged, I missed the turn to the farm place. Again I turned and walked back south, again missing the turn.
Walking north again, I found my turn. I went on until I passed several pieces of machinery which I was not able to see and finally came to a tractor. I held on to the tractor for a few minutes and caught my breath. When I reached the hay rake I did the same thing. The wind was terrific and I could only see the ground before me.
Since I had passed two hi-line posts, I knew I was in the right direction.
I came to a big snowdrift, perhaps fifty feet across and four to five feet high, which was glazed with a coating of ice. I made several attempts to cross this drift for I knew the buildings were on the other side. I would get about two-thirds of the way across and the wind would blow me back. Finally I bent over almost to my hands and knees and made it across. It seemed to take fifteen minutes to cross this drift. I was fighting for breath and my face and eyes were iced over.
Before I left my car I loosened my muffler from around my neck, so I could pull it over my face and be able to breathe through it. I tied the flaps of my cap under my chin and put a sheep skin coat on top of the leather coat I was wearing. I had on two shirts and two pair of overalls. I took a new flashlight from the car.
Crossing the snowdrift had taken a lot of my strength. I noticed a building on the left-hand side of me which I undoubtedly would have missed, but it was painted red and showed up through the white haze.
I walked to it to get my breath and clear the ice from my face and eyes. I only planned to stay here five or ten minutes and then walk on to the house. I located the door on the south side which was in my favor. At first glance I noticed it was almost full of oats. On the inside of the door was a sign which read "Notice" and I didn't read further as I knew this was a government sealed bin.
The thought occurred to me that I would freeze to death in there--perhaps it would be weeks or months before I would be found. Then I noticed two tame ducks in the bin so I knew that as soon as the storm subsided Mr. Davis would care for them. There was also one chicken but it froze sometime in the night.
The door to this building opened from the outside and was held shut by a knob on the outside. I looked around for some way to fasten the door from the inside and as I flashed my light around the wall I noticed several pieces of iron hanging on nails. Then I discovered a hog hook. I took it and pulled the door shut all but about three or four inches. Then I spied a nail about eighteen or twenty inches from this hook.
I took my handkerchief from my pocket, tied one end on the hook, the other on the nail and kept the door shut except for about four inches. The snow kept drifting through the door, but back three feet I couldn't feel the draft.
The building had a shed roof and the high side was on the south side. The grain was piled level with the eaves on the north side. This gave me a space about four feet high in which to stand on the south side. I am a man five feet eight inches in height.
Shortly after I entered this building I noticed the coming darkness of night. I knew I was about 50 yards from the house but I didn't know for sure if the house was located west or northwest of this building. I knew now I should not gamble with my life--my chances were greater in missing the house than finding it. I thought in a few minutes Mr. Davis would put his lights on and I would be able to see the glow to direct me. I could not see a glow or any resemblance of a light so I gave up hope of getting to the house that night.
I was afraid I would freeze so every twenty minutes I would stamp and kick my feet two hundred times and beat my bands together two hundred times. I tried sitting down but the oats in the bin was like a cake of ice. I spent fifteen hours standing all the time in a cramped position, bending over from my hips with my head touching the roof and my back against the wall. Snow kept sifting in. It hung on the wall and roof, then my cap would brush it off. The snow would drop inside my collar and melt.
I was wearing two pair of canvas gloves. My hands and gloves were as wet as if I had placed them in a pan of water. In my leather coat pocket beneath my sheepskin was a pair of kangaroo, unlined leather gloves. I put these on about midnight.
A time or two during the night I pulled the ducks over and placed them on my feet, thinking the warmth from their body and feathers would help some. They would not stay on my feet--it seemed that the northeast corner of the building was their private spot. Every time I flashed my light on them, they would quack to each other and go back to sleep.
I could not begin to tell the number of times I glanced at my watch. I thought fifteen minutes had gone by and perhaps it would be only two or three minutes. I counted off every hour of the night. The first part of the night did not seem so long because I had high hopes the blizzard would lull at midnight but it continued with great intensity and the remaining eight hours of the night seemed twice as long.
My flashlight and watch were a great help to me. A little light now and then helped raise my spirits and I didn't feel so utterly alone.
Several times previous to eleven o'clock I stepped outside the granary trying to see the light for I felt sure Mr. Davis would try to listen to the ten o'clock news from Yankton. After eleven o'clock I did not venture out of the building. My clothes were getting wet and I was getting much colder. I had two packages of cigarettes when I left home. I had smoked my first package by midnight and to light my last cigarette from my first package I used my last match.
I wasn't too frightened about myself but I worried all that time about my family. We had a distance of five miles to our schoolhouse. Luckily the children were attending school in a bunkhouse owned by Forrest Huddle. They remained at the ranch with the other pupils and their teacher Alice Duffy and were fine.
My wife was home alone. I was concerned about her getting fuel oil for our stove. The wind was strong and the ground so icy that she could fall, be seriously hurt and not be able to reach the house. My thoughts were many. I hoped my children would be safe and wished for the morning light. I prayed for my family and self and whoever might be out in the terrible storm.
As tedious hours of the night dragged on, I fought my two great enemies, first sleep and then cold. I knew if I surrendered to sleep I would perish immediately from the cold. I fought sleep for one hour by talking to myself and even talking to the ducks. During the night my feet would go to steep and I didn't know if they were going to sleep from standing on them so long or if they were freezing. But they were going to sleep.
The long night was over and daylight was breaking. The wind had gone down only a little. Around eight o'clock I left the building to find my way to the house. "Here goes," I said to the ducks. I walked two-thirds of the way to the house before I could locate it.
I jerked the screen door open and kicked the inside door open with my foot. Mr. Davis called, "Come in, Bill." He knew by telephone I had been stalled somewhere in my car but didn't know where. I must have frightened him because my clothes had snow blown into them and were covered with ice. He had no idea I had spent the night in his granary.
He thought I must be half frozen to death and helped me take off my coat, scarf and cap. I told him I was not frozen or frostbitten. I asked him to call my wife, my parents and some of my neighbors to let them know I had been located and was all right.
They gave me a warm breakfast and coffee which tasted good. It took several hours for me to get warmed through. I was aching from my hips clear through my back and neck until I could hardly straighten up for a couple of hours.
They made a bed for me but I did not steep any that day although I did rest a few minutes. My back and neck hurt for several days due to the cramped position I was in.
I sat around all of that day and the next morning our neighbor, Mr. Huddle flew me home by plane.
I rested pretty well for the coming week for fear the exposure would cause pneumonia. My feet were sore for weeks from kicking and stamping them. My hands were swollen several days from beating them together. A time or two I lost my temper and hit them harder than I should have.
I was grateful for the help people gave me. That was the longest, most horrible night I ever spent in my life."
Clarence and Mildred were married on 27 Jun 1939 in Clearfield, South Dakota. They had two children. They are:
1. Clarence Robert "Tex" Longcor - b. 22 Mar 1940 in Gregory, South Dakota; myself. m. 18 Aug 1962, Bison, South Dakota, Theresa Ann Deibert, b. 12 Apr 1941, Rapid City, South Dakota.
2. Rita Lavonne Longcor - b. 29 Aug 1942 in Gregory, South Dakota, m. Jack Malmberg, b. 29 May 1939.
TEX AND THERESA
I married Theresa Deibert on 18 Aug 1962 in Bison, South Dakota.
After our wedding, the following article appeared in the Bison Courier.
“DEIBERT - LONGCOR VOWS SPOKEN HERE SATURDAY
Marriage vows and rings were exchanged at a ceremony at high noon at Blessed Sacrament here Saturday by Theresa Ann Deibert and Clarence Longcor; Jr., with the Rev. Fr. John Corry reading the vows in the presence of the families and friends of the couple.
Mr. and Mrs. Joe Deibert, Bison, are the parents of the bride, and the groom's parents are Mr. and Mrs. Clarence Longcor , Sr., of Millboro, SD.
Baskets of white gladioli graced the altar.
Mrs. Arnold Heck, church organist, played as a prelude "Wedding March" by Kreckel as the wedding party entered the church. She accompanied Charles Geboe, Pierre, Dept. of Indian Affairs, as he sang "0n This Day”, “O Beautiful Mother”, "Ava Maria”, and "Panis Angelicus" during the ceremony. The recessional was Rossini's "Wedding March."
Escorted by her father, who gave her in marriage, the bride was lovely in white lace and nylon sheer over satin, fashioned with scoop neckline, long sleeves and ballerina skirt. Her short veil was held by a decorative flower headpiece. She carried a bridal arrangement of carnations.
Her maid of honor Donna Ryan, Bowman, ND, wore blue lace with a brief veil and carried white carnations.
Mr. Longcor was attended by Ted Haley, Yankton, as best man. Edward and Tom Deibert were ushers and Roy and Greg Deibert were altar boys.
Mrs. Deibert chose a blue and white sheath and Mrs. Longcor a blue nylon print. Their corsages were of white carnations.
At the reception in the church parlors, the bridal party was seated at a table centered with a three tiered wedding cake featuring the bride’s chosen colors, blue and white. Lighted candles flanked the cake. Mrs. Phylis Nash, Hettinger, Julia Kopren, and Rose Sander cut and served the cake made by Mrs. Wessel with ice cream. Sharon Kopren served punch and Darlene Peck, Darlene Omstead, and Cleone Vesley served the bridal party. Joann and Amy Deibert opened gifts. Aunts of the bride were hostesses assisted by her friends and classmates.
As Mr. and Mrs. Longcor left for Rapid City where they will establish their home, she wore an ensemble of pink.
Mrs. Longcor has grown up in Bison and is a graduate of the local High School and St. John's School of Nursing in Rapid City and is employed at St. John's Hospital. Her husband is a Senior at the School of Mines.
Prenuptial courtesies extended to the bride included a miscellaneous shower arranged by Sandra and Mavis Krause last week.
Guests who came from distant homes to attend the wedding included Mr. and Mrs. Clarence Longcor, Sr. and Rita, Millboro; Clione Vesely, Witten, SD; Charles Geboe, Pierre; Glen Schalberg, Rees Morgan, Mr. and Mrs. August Deibert, Sharon Kopren, Rapid City; Karen Selting, Ted Haley, Yankton; Mr. and Mrs. Matt Ryan, Bowman; Marvin Rankin, Wyoming; Mr. and Mrs. Don Siggestad, Deadwood; Phylis Nash, Hettinger; Mr. and Mrs. George Deibert, Spearfish; Darlene Peck, Reva; and Darlene Omstead, Provo.”
We have four children and two grand children. Our daughters are Terri, Sharon, Stacy, and Megan. Terri and Christopher Reidy have a daughter Angelica. Stacy and Joe Barry have a son Ryan.
1. Terri Lee Longcor - b. 14 Feb 1963 in Rapid City, South Dakota, m. Christopher Reidy.
2. Sharon Rae Longcor - b. 17 Dec 1964 in Huntsville, Alabama, m. James Diocson.
3. Stacy Marie Longcor - b. 9 May 1969 in Rapid City, South Dakota, m. Joe Barry.
4. Megan Ann Longcor - b. 8 Aug 1973 in Rapid City, South Dakota.
Top row: James Diocson, Sharon Rae Longcor Diocson, Megan Ann Longcor, Clarence Robert "Tex" Longcor
Middle row: Terri Lee Longcor Reidy, Theresa Ann Deibert Longcor, Stacy Marie Longcor Barry
Bottom row: Angelica Janine Reidy, Ryan Joseph Barry
This page is still under construction. Please contact me if you are interested in sharing Longcor information.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
I owe a great debt of gratitude to the many Longcor family researchers for their sharing and helping me locate missing information linking my family together.
Thank you Ron Blackall, Timothy Cook, Greg Geising, George Gildersleeve, Brenda Handley, Freda Hays, Sharon Knoblock, Ralph “Mike” Longcor, Richard Guy Longcor, Chris Longcore, David McConnell, Harley Phillips, Jackie Soncrant, Paul Thompson, and Carol van Buren.
BIBLIOGRAPHY
• The Descendants of Peter Longcor and Abigail Haines 1774 - Present, Sharon Lynn Knoblock.
• Elkhart Co. Indiana Marriages 1830 - 1849 by Dorothy Murray of Hunting for Bears Inc., P.O. Box 204, N.S.L., Utah, Page No. 34, 8 March 1988.
• Genealogies of New Jersey Families, from the Genealogical Magazine of New Jersey, Volume II, Selected and Introduced by Joseph R. Klett, Genealogical Publishing Company, Inc., Baltimore, 1996.
• History of Sussex County, New Jersey, with Illustrations and Biographical Sketches of its Prominent Men and Pioneers, Compiled by James P. Snell in 1881, republished by Virginia Alleman Brown, Genealogical Researchers, Washington, New Jersey, 1 June 1981.
• Index to Military Men of New Jersey 1775 - 1815, Editors Ronald Vernon Jackson, Gary Ronald Teeples, and David Schaefermeyer, Accelerated Indexing Systems, Inc., Bountiful, Utah, 1977.
• Index of Revolutionary War Pension Applications, Revised by Sadye Giller, William H. Dumont, and Louise M. Dumont, National Genealogical Society, Washington, D.C., 1966.
• New Jersey Tax Lists 1772 - 1822, Vol. 3, Editor Ronald Vernon Jackson.
• Our Wantage Heritage by People of Wantage, Edited by Lawrence E. King, Illustrated by Muriel Robertson, Gateway Press, Inc., Baltimore, 1976.
• Pennsylvania German Pioneers, A Publication of the Original Lines of Arrivals in the Port of Philadelphia from 1727 to 1808, by Ralph Beaver Strassburger, LL.D., Baltimore Genealogical Publishing Company, 1966.
• Remsen Relatives, A Genealogy, Compiled by Armida Sharpin, 1991.
• Sussex County, New Jersey Marriages, Howard E. Case, Heritage Books, Inc. 1992.
• Transcript of John Longcor’s Bible Record, Genealogical Society of New Jersey, #2977.
Address
- Clarence R. Longcor
- 450 Bell Point Road
- Lacey's Spring, AL 35754-6507
- (256) 498-6240
Email: tlongcor@hiwaay.net
