Individual Details

Author: Mrs. J. Wells Vick

Nimrod Long to whom Bethel College owes its financial prosperity more than
any other man, was born in Logan Co. Ky. July 31, 1814. He was the son of John
Slaughter Long and wife - nee, Elizabeth Foster, both lie buried in the Long and
Foster Graveyard near Old Volney ten miles on the Russellville - Clarksville
Road. N. Long had a common school education; at fourteen years of age he entered
a dry goods store in Russellville as clerk for three years, then became a
partner and soon after senior partner. After the senior partner died he took his
brother as partner. Then followed twenty years of merchandising, then a banker,
tobacco dealer, live stock, real estate, manufacturer of flour, in all of which
he was abundantly successful. He united with the Baptist Church at an early age.
He used his business qualities to advance the cause of Christ.

Kerr's History of Kentucky Vol. IV page 433 has this to say relative to
Nimrod Long, "Nimrod Long was one of the ablest financiers on Southern Kentucky
and a man of great philanthropy, whose generosity is represented in several
institutions, including Bethel College. The N. Long Professorship of English and
History of Bethel College was named in honor of the devoted services and
liberality of Mr. Long. The original domitory [sic] is known as the N. Long Hall
and was built in 1873. Some years after his death in 1892, the heirs of Mr. Long
and C. W. Norton gave to Bethel College the property known as the 'Southern Bank
of Kentucky' to be used as a library and other purposes."

Mr. Long served as treasurer of his church, the First Baptist of
Russellville and was a very liberal giver to his church.

The quiet man of business and affairs, Nimrod Long, had some advantages
that several times exposed him immediately to the dangers of death. Once he was
on a steamboat coming from St. Louis; the boiler exploded, the man sitting by
him was blown to atoms, and he himself was projected into the air and landed on
an adjoining steam boat. At another time his home was blown up by leaking gas in
the cellar and he was badly injured. He also fell off the roof of Bethel
College. When the James boys made their raid on his bank a bullet fired by the
bandits plowed his head and he was beaten by the robbers until they thought he
was dead. In spite of all these hazards the end came quietly and peacefully in
his own home.

Additional Comments:
Volunteer transcription - copied from FHL Film #855039

File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/ky/logan/bios/long525gbs.txt

Birth	31 Jul 1814	Logan County, Kentucky
Marriage	3 Dec 1833	Logan County, Kentucky - Elizabeth Williams Curd
Marriage	30 Sep 1846	Logan County, Kentucky - Sarah Angelina Nantz
Death	24 Apr 1887

Spouse	Elizabeth Williams Curd (1815 - 1845)
Child	Ellen Gilley Long (1843 - 1845)

Spouse

Sarah Angelina Nantz (1825 - 1848)

Father	John Slaughter Long ( - 1839)
Mother	Elizabeth Foster ( - )
Sibling	Anthony Foster Long (1809 - 1863)
Sibling	Gabriel Long ( - )
Sibling	John S. Long ( - )
Sibling	Eliza A. C. Long ( - )
Sibling	Gillie S. Long ( - )
Sibling	Martha R. Long ( - )