| Notes |
- The Daily Times-News (Burlington, NC), 18 Jun 1959: Col. Jacob A. Long Conducted Law Practice Nearly 50 Years
By Julian Hughes
Times-News Special Writer
To one who has lived in Alamance County for fifty years or more will recall this oft repeated expression: "Jake Long is his lawyer, and Jake is hard to beat in court."
Jacob A. Long, who was born in Orange County and died in Alamance County, practiced law in Graham for nearly a half century. He was sharp as a brier and a tough opponent in a battle of wits.
Jacob Alson Long was born on the west side of Haw River, April 6, 1846, three years before Alamance County was authorized. He was one of five sons born to Jacob Long and Jane Stockard Long.
The elder Jacob Long was a farmer and lived not too far from what later became the town of Graham. The farmer's wife, Jane Stockard Long, was one of Col. John Stockard's daughters.
Col. John Stockard, it will be remembered, was a soldier in the War of 1812, later he was a member of the North Carolina General Assembly representing Orange County.
Col. Stockard fought hard for the formation of Alamance County when his grandson Jacob was a baby. And the infant Jacov represented the fourth generation of Conrad Long, who migrated to the colonies from Germany in 1750.
About the time Jake Long was old enough to start to school, the Graham Institute was started in the new town of Graham. So, he was "broken to the harness" by such scholars of the day as Rev. John R. Holt and Albert Anderson.
When the War Between The States broke out, Jacob A. Long was a student at Haxo Military Academy of Virginia. At that time Jake was only 15 years old, most too young for a Confederate soldier. So, he continued to be a cadet at Haxo until May of 1864.
In the spring of 1864, a month or two before he completed his academic training, the Federals raided the Staunton bright hoping to cut off communication. Jacob joined the hostility gathered force of militia consisting of upper classmen. The school militia was well trained, and shouldered arms like veteran troopers. For five hours the cadets kept up the shooting and the Yankee boys were repulsed.
When his school was out in May of 1864, he made his way to Petersburg, Va., and enlisted as a private in the battery of Capt. Samuel T. Wright, in the artillery of Anderson's corps. He was there all during the siege of Petersburg and saw the mine explosion that wrecked the breastworks and hurled men and cannon in the air. Long's outfit rendered valuable assistance to the tired Confederate soldiers, and Lee's army recovered the line for a short while.
From July, 1864 to March the next year, Pvt. Long made a good soldier and was promoted to corporal during that time. His last encounter with the "Yanks" was on March 25, 1865, about two weeks before Lee surrendered. Cpl. Long and his comrades fought gallantly against the breastworks of General Gordon's corps at Hare's Hill, but they were outflanked by Grant's overwhelming forces.
When Lee surrendered to Grant at Appomattox, Col. Long and three companions left with fixed bayonets for North Carolina. Johnson and Sherman were still playing "tag" in the "Ole North State." They were mustered out in Greensboro, and Cpl. Jacob Long made his way back to Alamance County.
Jacob Long had fighting blood in his veins inherited from both his maternal and paternal ancestors. His great uncles fought in the Revolutionary War. His grandfather, Col. John Stockard, and his great grandfather, James Stockard, fought in the wars with England. And his great uncle, Gov. William Trousdale, of Tennessee, who married his mother's aunt, was with Andrew Jackson in the Battle of New Orleans. If Jacob Long had been old enough to enlist in 1861, he might have been promoted to captain or a major. He did, however, get the title of colonel after the war, and was often addressed Col. Jacob A. Long. But that was a title conferred on him by a Confederate veterans organization under Gen. Walker.
After the war Jacob enrolled in Dr. Alexander Wilson's school at Melville. His two brothers, Daniel and George, were also tutored by Dr. Alexander Wilson, and so were Edwin M. Holt's sons, Banks and Lawrence.
When Jacob Long was through with Dr. Wilson's school he studied law with William Ruffin at Hillsboro. He started practicing law in Graham in 1874.
Meanwhile, Jacob Long had been paying court to David Teague's daughter, Esta. In December of 1871, when the spirit of Christmas was in the air. Esta and Jake were married five days before Yuke Day. The Teague-Long union produced a family of seven children?five daughters and two sons.
Col. Jacob A. Long was the same type of lawyer as Maj. John W. Graham, the father of A. H. (Sandy) Graham of Hillsboro. (Incidentally, Sandy Graham married one of Jacob Long's daughters.)
A young lawyer came to Major Graham for advice, so the story goes. Here is the advice the major gave the youngster:
"If the evidence against your client is weak, break it down. Your course will be simple. If the evidence is strongly against the defendant; then pick out some witness on the other side, and give him hell when you make your plea to the jury."
Perhaps the first really important case for Jacob Long was the state of North Carolina versus George W. Swepson which came up in the spring term of Alamance Superior Court in 1876. Swepson was suspected of murdering A. G. (Dolph) Moore of Haw River. Moore was a brother-in-law and partner of Thomas M. Holt, who became Alamance County's first citizen to become governor of the state.
Moore and Swepson were not on the best of terms. As a matter of fact, they were enemies in business. On the evening of January 25, 1876, Dolph Moore was found lying on the ground in front of Swepson's Haw River home in a semiconscious condition; he had been shot by someone.
Quite naturally the people of the village suspected George Swepson of the shooting. Realizing that Moore was popular with the poor people of Haw River, and the poor in Haw River outnumbered the well-to-do 100 to one or better, Swepson sent a messenger to Sheriff Hunter, asking for protection until the case could be aired in court.
When the case came up in the spring term of 1876, Swepson appeared under the custody of Sheriff Hunter. Jacob A. Long was counsel for the defense. The case was transferred to Hillsboro in the fall term of criminal court that year. Although Dolph Moore died from the bullet wound two days later, January 27, nobody who was examined on the witness stand saw the shooting, so Swepson was released for lack of evidence. And Jacob A. Long won his case, collected his fee, and gained a reputation as a brilliant lawyer.
In the election year of 1888, Jacob Long was elected to the Legislature by the Democrats of Alamance. On the same day that year, Daniel G. Fowle of Wake County and Thomas M. Holt of Alamance were elected governor and lieutenant governor, respectively.
Gov. Fowle died in 1891, and Thomas M. Holt, by virtue of his office as lieutenant governor, served out Fowle's term from 1891 to 1893. Jacob Long was chairman of the Finance Committee. So, Alamance County was well represented in Raleigh from 1891 to 1893.
When Jacob Elmer Long finished school, or college, he and his father practiced law in Graham together. There were three Jacob Longs, though there were no juniors in the family.
Ralph Long settled in Winston-Salem, and on last account was still there. In the election of 1924, J. Elmer Long was elected lieutenant governor?a running mater of Angus W. McLean of Robeson County. After the death of his father, Elmer Long practiced law in Durham.
Jacob Long and son, Elmer, made a well-balanaced law firm. The elder Long had the judgment gained by many years of experience. The younger Long had the strength, and having the strength he had the courage to fight for the clients. Nevertheless, Jacob A. Long used the tactics recommended by Maj. Graham for 40 years or more. And he had such able solicitors as Capt. E. S. Parker, A. L. Brooks and S. M. Gattis as opponents, who were very effective counterpoise against lawyers for the defendants.
Col. Jacob Alson Long was a victim of a stroke of paralysis early in October of 1923. On Thursday, the fourth day of the month, just as Mr. Long was receiving his noon nourishment, he passed away. He and his wife Esta Teague Long are buried in Linwood Cemetery at Graham. Mrs. Long survived the colonel 10 years. She died February 27, 1933.
When Mr. Long died he left, besides his widow, seven children. They included five daughters and two sons: Mrs. Everett, Mrs. Holladay and Mrs. Woodland of Suffolk, Virginia, Mrs. Mebane of Greensboro, Mrs. Sandy Graham, of Hillsboro, Elmer Long who was living in Durham then, and Ralph Long who was living in Winston-Salem. Mrs. Everett (Julia), and Elmer Long have since died.
The first Jacob Long, who died in 1894 at age 87, and his wife Jane Stockard Long, did a good job of bringing up their six children. Dr. William S. Long, became a preacher and college president?the first president of Elon College. Dr. Daniel A. Long was also a preacher and college president. Jacob A. Long, as we have seen, was a lawyer and statesman. Benjamin F. Long was also in the legal profession and became a judge. And Dr. George Long practiced medicine in Graham. The daughter's name was Bettie and she married a Clendenin.
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1846 - 1923 (77 years)
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