Harry Nelson Longfellow

From 1980 Taylor County history:

"HARRY N LONGFELLOW

Erma and I started farming in 1926 on the farm where I was born in Jackson Township. Our nine children, Vivian, Charles, Doris, Marvin, Lois, Arlene, Harry Jr., Wilma, and Alan were born on the farm and all grew to adulthood there.

Our livelihood was general farming, milking cows, raising hogs, Hereford cattle, and chickens. We feel we have lived and farmed in the most interesting times, from horse farming equipment to all tractor implement farming, which was the most prosperous times we may ever see again.

Erma came to Bedford with her parents, Mr. and Mrs. Edward A. Scott, in May 1920, from Nebraska where she was born. Her father's birthplace was Audubon County, Iowa. He was a watchmaker and jeweler there for several Years.

Mv great, great grandfather, a half-brother of the poet's father, was also a farmer. Grandfather Joseph Purcell Longfellow, son of Lemuel Vincent Longfellow, and Grandma Mary Elder Longfellow came to Taylor County from Muscatine County, Iowa in 1880. They came by team and wagon with all their worldly possessions including their family cow. They lived in Platteville, a flourishing town, which had a general store, hotel, Dr. office, church, and school. Grandpa operated a blacksmith shop for several years, shoeing horses for 25 cents a shoe and sharpening plow shares for 35 cents a share. He told of making a buggy top one winter which my father used when he started farming. I remember riding to town in that same buggy.

My father, Charles Elder Longfellow was the second son of six Longfellow sons. Dad would tell when he was a boy he worked for 25 cents a day for some of the big farmers like the Fordyce's and Stanley's and was glad to get that kind of pay back then.

In 1900 Dad married Mary T. Streebin, daughter of John Christian Streebin. Grandpa Streebin came to America from Germany and Grandma (Busker) Streebin came from Holland. (Thev worked together on the same farm until they married in 1872.) They came to Taylor County (west of Platteville) in 1877. That 160 acres is still occupied by his great grandson, Lyndell Streebin. Grandpa Streebin bought another 160 acres 1 mile south in Jackson Township which Dad and Mother moved on and later purchased it and 120 acres next to it. On the N.W. corner of the farm stood the Science Ridge schoolhouse where three generations of our family attended. It has been the Science Ridge (Longfellow) farm since 1900 where the fourth generation now lives.

After farming for 46 years, Erma and I moved to Bedford to let Alan, our younsest son, and his wife, EIouise (Groff) Longfellow, buy the farm. In addition to farming, Alan and Elouise operate Longfellow and Sons Welding Repair which is located on the farm. They have three children, Bradley, Heather, and Dustin who we hope will keep it a Longfellow farm for years to come. Harry N. Longfellow"