David Long

Tradition tells us that David Long (Lang) left Lancaster, PA, with his family in 1811-12, and located in Pfoutz Valley, Perry County, then Cumberland County, PA. David was the founder of the Long Family in Perry County. The story of the journey of the family from Lancaster County to Perry County was related by Benjamin Lang, the son of David, and is preserved as true history. The David Lang family, with their household goods and other belongings, left Lancaster County in two four-horse covered wagons. In one wagon, there were farming implements, seed, furniture, the general supplies. In the other wagon, furniture had been so arranged that the family could eat, cook, and sleep. In a chest, in one of the wagons, they had stowed money, in the amount $10,000, the price which David had agreed to pay for the farm he intended to purchase from a man by the name of Spar, who lived in Pfoutz Valley. After traveling days, and sometimes at night, they finally came to Clark's Ferry on the East side of the Susquehanna river, above Harrisburg, where they proposed to cross the river into Perry County. They reached this crossing in the early evening of one day, and immediately sent one of the wagons across to the West side of the river. In this wagon was the chest containing the money. Before the man could return to take the other wagon across to the west side a violent storm suddenly came upon them, and the second wagon had to remain on the east side of the river until morning. This caused a great deal of worry and anxiety, inasmuch as the men of the party were on the west side of the river while the women had to remain on the east side, and at that time the Indians were plentiful in this locality, and very crafty and savage. However, everything turned out alright, and in the morning, the other wagon crossed the river in safety, and they proceeded on their Journey.

When they reached their destination, which was probably three months after leaving Lancaster County, they found that this man Spar from whom they expected to purchase land, had changed his mind regarding the sale, and had closed and barricaded their house, refusing to see the new comers.  This man Spar had five sons, and the Langs were told that were all well armed with rifles and plenty of ammunition, and would resist any attempt on the part of David Lang and his party to gain possession of the property.  David had anticipated some trouble, so he had some of the men take the chest of money close to the house, where they spread out a cloth and counted the Money, and stacked in in $100 piles so that it could be plainly seen by the inmates of the Spar house.  The sight of all this money softened the hearts of the Spars, and they gave the land to David Lang without any further trouble.

The log house surrendered by Spar to David Lang, was located on about 1200 acres which became the property of David, and on which the Lang family resided for many years. A private burying ground was laid out on the farm and in it many of the family are buried.* Reference: Find A Grave Memorial - SmartCopy: Feb 18 2022, 21:24:23 UTC
Tradition tells us that David Long (Lang) left Lancaster, PA, with his family in 1811-12, and located in Pfoutz Valley, Perry County, then Cumberland County, PA. David was the founder of the Long Family in Perry County. The story of the journey of the family from Lancaster County to Perry County was related by Benjamin Lang, the son of David, and is preserved as true history. The David Lang family, with their household goods and other belongings, left Lancaster County in two four-horse covered wagons. In one wagon, there were farming implements, seed, furniture, the general supplies. In the other wagon, furniture had been so arranged that the family could eat, cook, and sleep. In a chest, in one of the wagons, they had stowed money, in the amount $10,000, the price which David had agreed to pay for the farm he intended to purchase from a man by the name of Spar, who lived in Pfoutz Valley. After traveling days, and sometimes at night, they finally came to Clark's Ferry on the East side of the Susquehanna river, above Harrisburg, where they proposed to cross the river into Perry County. They reached this crossing in the early evening of one day, and immediately sent one of the wagons across to the West side of the river. In this wagon was the chest containing the money. Before the man could return to take the other wagon across to the west side a violent storm suddenly came upon them, and the second wagon had to remain on the east side of the river until morning. This caused a great deal of worry and anxiety, inasmuch as the men of the party were on the west side of the river while the women had to remain on the east side, and at that time the Indians were plentiful in this locality, and very crafty and savage. However, everything turned out alright, and in the morning, the other wagon crossed the river in safety, and they proceeded on their Journey.

When they reached their destination, which was probably three months after leaving Lancaster County, they found that this man Spar from whom they expected to purchase land, had changed his mind regarding the sale, and had closed and barricaded their house, refusing to see the new comers.  This man Spar had five sons, and the Langs were told that were all well armed with rifles and plenty of ammunition, and would resist any attempt on the part of David Lang and his party to gain possession of the property.  David had anticipated some trouble, so he had some of the men take the chest of money close to the house, where they spread out a cloth and counted the Money, and stacked in in $100 piles so that it could be plainly seen by the inmates of the Spar house.  The sight of all this money softened the hearts of the Spars, and they gave the land to David Lang without any further trouble.

The log house surrendered by Spar to David Lang, was located on about 1200 acres which became the property of David, and on which the Lang family resided for many years. A private burying ground was laid out on the farm and in it many of the family are buried.* Reference: Find A Grave Memorial - SmartCopy: Dec 4 2023, 21:23:45 UTC