My Genealogy Hound

PATRICK H. LONGAN, an enterprising and successful farmer of Pettis County, and the efficient Circuit Clerk, was born in Cooper County, this state, April 17, 1846. His father, Rev. George W. Longan, was born near Charleston, in what was then Howard County, Mo., and the grandfather, Hon. A. K. Longan, was a native of Virginia. The last-named was left an orphan at the age of nine years, and then went to Kentucky to live with a brother, being reared there upon a farm. After his marriage he came to Missouri, locating in Howard County, near Charleston, where he followed farming and brick-making, and subsequently moved to Cooper County. After the admission of the state to the Union he was twice elected Representative in the Legislature. The family is of Irish descent and was founded in America by Patrick Longan, who was one of the heroes of the Revolution. In religious faith he was a Protestant.

The father of our subject was a self-made and self-educated man, who through life was a close student. He became a minister in the Christian Church, and preached in Cooper and Benton Counties, also in Plattsburg, Kansas City, Warrensburg and other places. He was one of the Trustees of the State Normal School at Warrensburg, also one of the Regents of the Missouri State University at Columbia. Earnest and untiring in his work, he was a prominent and well known minister among those of his denomination, and also had a wide acquaintance on account of his deep and abiding interest in educational matters. He organized many churches, including the one at Sedalia, which was established during the war, and of which he continued pastor several years. He was a member of the Masonic fraternity, a Whig and Republican in politics, and during the war supported the Union. His death occurred at Sweet Springs, Mo., December 29, 1892, at the age of seventy-two. His wife, who bore the maiden name of Myra P. Reavis, was born in Missouri, and is now living in this county, at the age of seventy-four years. They had seven children, all of whom are living. The third child, William H., was in a Missouri regiment, on the Union side, during the Civil War, and now resides in Dallas County, Mo. George B. is Superintendent of the Washington School of Kansas City; James A. also lives in Kansas City; Maria K. is the wife of William L. Black; Mary E. married Joseph Stone; and Martha E. became the wife of Joseph Upton. The maternal grandfather, James A. Reavis, removed from North Carolina to Missouri at an early day and was a farmer and distiller of Pisgah, Cooper County. Subsequently he carried on farming in Texas for a time, but afterward returned to this state, and lived retired near Holden until his death, which occurred when past the age of ninety years. He was of English descent.

Patrick H. Longan was a lad of seven summers when his parents removed to Warsaw, Mo., Three years later they went to Benton County, and he then continued upon the home farm until he had attained his majority. In 1864 he enlisted in Company G, Fifth Missouri Provisional Regiment, which was mustered in in Benton County, and did service in that vicinity until the close of the war as State Guards. In March, 1866, he came to Pettis County, where he followed farming tor a time, and then attended the Allen Institute of Farmer City.

In March, 1869, Mr. Longan was married, in this county, to Miss Angeline Donnohue, who is also of Irish ancestry. She is a native of Pettis County, and a daughter of J. C. Donnohue, a farmer. Six children have been born to them. George W. is serving as Deputy Circuit Clerk; Rufus E., who taught school for two years, is now a cadet at West Point, being appointed by John T. Heard, Democratic Congressman from this district, and having made the highest average in a competitive examination; J. C. has attended Warrensburg Normal School, but is now at home; and Minnie D., R. H. and Ruth complete the list.

Upon his marriage Mr. Longan rented land in Prairie Township, but afterwards purchased and improved a farm, adding to it from time to time, until he now has two hundred and forty-two acres of highly cultivated land, and in addition to general farming he carries on stock-raising. His home is pleasantly located five miles from Sedalia. In public affairs he is prominent, being considered one of the leaders of the Republican party in this community. He is Chairman of the Township Republican Committee, was twice nominated as County Collector without his solicitation, and in the fall of 1894 was elected Circuit Clerk for a four-years term, entering upon the duties of his office in January, 1895. As the county was Democratic, his election was a high testimonial to his personal popularity and the esteem in which he is held by all who know him. Socially he is connected with the Ancient Order of United Workmen, and religiously he is connected with the Christian Church of Dresden. His business efforts have been crowned with a well merited success, and he is a pleasant and genial gentleman, of courteous manner and pleasing address, and his friends throughout the community are many.