The Bay State Monthly, Volume 3, No. 4

The Bay State Monthly, Volume
3, No. 4

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Title: The Bay State Monthly, Volume 3, No. 4
Author: Various
Release Date: February 9, 2006 [EBook #17724]
Language: English
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[Illustration: John D. Long]

THE BAY STATE MONTHLY.
A Massachusetts Magazine.
VOL. III. SEPTEMBER, 1885. NO. IV.
* * * * *

HON. JOHN D. LONG.
Hon. John D. Long, the thirty-second governor of the Commonwealth
of Massachusetts, under the Constitution, and whose wise, prudent
administration reflected great credit upon himself, was born in
Buckfield, Maine, October 27, 1838.
His father was a man of some prominence in the Pine Tree State, and in
the year in which his more distinguished son first saw the light, he ran
for Congress on the Whig ticket, and although receiving a plurality of
the votes cast, he was defeated.
The son was a studious lad, more fond of his books than of play, and
thought more of obtaining a solid education than of developing his
muscles as an athlete. At the proper age he entered the academy at
Hebron, the principal of which was at that time Mark H. Dunnell,
subsequently a member of Congress from Minnesota.
At the age of fourteen, young Long entered the Freshman class at
Harvard College. He at once took high rank, stood fourth in his class
for the course, and second at the end of the Senior year. He was the
author of the class ode, sung on Commencement day.
After leaving College, Mr. Long was engaged as principal of the
Westford Academy, an old institution incorporated in 1793. He
remained at Westford two years, highly esteemed by his pupils and
beloved of the whole people. As a teacher, he won marked success, and

many of his contemporaries regret that he did not always remain in the
profession. But he cherished another, if not a higher ambition. From
Westford he passed to the Harvard Law School, and to the offices of
Sidney Bartlett and Peleg W. Chandler, in Boston. In 1861, he was
admitted to the bar, and then he opened an office in his native town, to
practise his new profession.
He soon found, however, that Buckfield was not the place for him.
People there were far too honest and peace-loving, and minded their
own business too well to assist in building up a lawyer's reputation.
After a two years' stay, therefore, he removed to Boston, and entered
the office of Stillman B. Allen, where he rapidly gained an extensive
practice. The firm, which consisted of Mr. Allen, Mr. Long, Thomas
Savage and Alfred Hemenway, had their offices on Court Street, in an
old building now on the site of the new Young's Hotel. Mr. Long
remained in the firm until his election, in November, 1879, to the
governorship of Massachusetts.
In 1870, he was married to Miss Mary W. Glover of Hingham,
Massachusetts, to which town he had previously removed his residence.
During his executive administration, he had the great misfortune to
undergo bereavement by the loss of this most estimable lady, whose
wise counsel often lent him encouragement in the perplexed days of his
official life.
In 1875, Mr. Long was chosen to represent the Republicans of the
second Plymouth District in the legislature. He at once took a
prominent position, and gained great popularity with his fellow
members. In 1876, he was re-elected to the House, and soon after he
was chosen speaker. This position he filled with dignity, grace, and
with an ease surpassed by no speaker before him or since. He showed
himself thoroughly versed in parliamentary practice, and his tact was
indeed something remarkable. So great was his popularity that, in 1877,
he had every vote which was cast for speaker, and in the following year
every vote but six.
In the fall of 1877, the Republican State Convention assembled at
Worcester, and it at once became apparent that many of the delegates

were desirous to vote for Mr. Speaker Long for the highest office in the
Commonwealth. At the convention he received, however, only 217
votes for candidate; and his name was then withdrawn. At the
convention of 1878, he again found numerous supporters, and received
266 votes for Governor.