Edward Long-First Town Treasurer
111 Water Street
St. Marys, ON
1852

 

Edward Long purchased the property from George Tracy in1852 and soon after built a house, which was one of the earliest stone homes built in St. Marys. An addition was added in 1869 as referenced in the Beacon (Stratford).

Edward Long was born on January 6, 1828, in North Nibley, Gloucester, England to father, Joseph, and mother, Ann. He was baptised on February 3, 1828. In the 1901 Census, it lists the year he immigrated to Canada was 1840. He married Elizabeth Johnston in 1846. Elizabeth was born in Brantford Township, Brant County, Ontario on November 16, 1826.

Edward and Elizabeth started their family with daughter, Caroline" Carrie", born on September 9, 1947. She married Edward W. Harding and had 10 children. Carrie died in 1908 in St. Marys.

Clarissa J. was born on March 1, 1850, she married Thomas A. Mara and had 5 children. She died in New Orleans, Louisiana, United States on April 9, 1927.

Their son, James Edward, was born on March 24, 1854. He moved to Revelstoke, British Columbia and married Elizabeth Jan Montgomery on November 26, 1907. He died there on January 13, 1911.

Mary Elizabeth "Minnie" joined the family on March 21, 1855, and died on February 20, 1928. She never married and lived her entire life in St. Marys.

Finally, Fredrick William was born on September 21, 1867.He had three children with his first wife, Isabella James, and two children with his second wife, Alma Royene Hoover. Fredrick died on February 19, 1946, in London, Ontario.

Edward was the respected first Treasurer of the Town of St. Marys. The 1851 Census lists his occupation as merchant. He opened the Dry Goods & Grocery store located on Queen Street East. He was also the Division Head Clerk, as listed in the 1891 Census.

Edward Long died on January 14, 1902; Elizabeth drowned five years later on May 31, 1907. They were living on Church Street at the time of both deaths.