Edwin W. Long

Edwin was the son of cabinetmaker Joseph Long and his wife Peniah Hutchinson Long, born in Pennsylvania in 1843^[1]. He lived with his parents above their shop on West Chester borough’s busy Church Street. Edwin received a good education, attending school through at least age 17^[2].

Edwin’s father was a respected cabinetmaker in the Borough, who not only made fine furniture but also built coffins and had a hearse to “attend funerals at short notice.^[3]” In his earliest advertisement for his business in 1845, he also had for sale mahogany bureaus and card tables, walnut and cherry breakfast tables, maple washstands, bedsteads, etc.

Edwin’s eldest sister, Hannah Mary Long, married West Chester photographer Eber Woodward on December 27, 1855.^[4] The 1860 Federal Census reveals that the young couple lived next door to the Long family on Church Street^[5].

In June of 1863, Edwin Long is recorded in the Civil War Draft listed as a 20-year- old photographer^[6]. He served with McVeagh’s Company of the Pennsylvania Volunteer Militia in 1864.

Edwin Long is recorded in the West Chester Tax lists with the occupation of a “photographist” for 1865 – 1867. Since no CDVs have been found in CCHC collection with Edwin Long’s imprint, it can be theorized that he studied under and worked for another West Chester photographer. Since his sister was married to Woodward and the family lived in between Eber Woodward and his partner Jesse Taylor^[7] one might assume that he worked in Woodward’s prosperous studio. But it is also possible that he worked for C. Alfred Garrett or Thomas W. Taylor, who were also in West Chester during that period.

I believe evidence provided by the West Chester Tax Lists suggest that Long did work for Woodward. Since Woodward sold his studio to Garrett in 1867, this is why Long’s occupation suddenly changed in the 1868 West Chester tax list to “gentleman.” Since the term gentleman usually indicates a person of means, could this mean that Woodward shared some of his profits of the sale with his brother-in-law^[8]?

In 1869 Edwin has a change of fortune, having given up photography for coach painting according to the West Chester Tax list^[9]. Another change came on December 8, 1873 when Edwin married Josephine Woodward in Philadelphia^[10]. Their happiness was short lived, however. On September 18, 1875 at age 33 Edwin died of consumption (tuberculosis)^[11]. He was buried in Oakland’s cemetery after a funeral from his parent’s home on Church St., West Chester. Attending the occasion are fellow members of the G.A.R. and First West Chester Fire Company. According to a resolution from the fire company, their fire apparatus was draped in mourning “for the usual period.”^[12]

© Pamela C. Powell, 2019.

1. Year: 1850; Census Place: West Chester, Chester, Pennsylvania; Roll: M432_764; Page: 307B; Image:620. ↑

2. Year: 1860; Census Place: West Chester, Chester, Pennsylvania; Roll: M653-1094 page 634, Family History Library Film: 805094. ↑

3. The Jeffersonian, (West Chester, PA), 28 January 1845. ↑

4. Morning Republican, (West Chester, PA), 13 August 1896. ↑

5. Year: 1860; Census Place: West Chester, Chester, Pennsylvania; Roll: M653-1094 page 634, Family History Library Film: 805094. ↑

6. Consolidated Lists of Civil War Draft Registration Records, 1863-1865. NM-65, entry 172, 620 volumes. NAI 4213514. Records of the Provost Marshal General’s Bureau (Civil War), Records Group 110. National Archives, Washington, D.C. ↑

7. Year: 1860; Census Place: West Chester, Chester, Pennsylvania; Roll: M653-1094 page 634, Family History Library Film: 805094. ↑

8. West Chester Tax Lists, 1868. Chester County Archives, West Chester, PA ↑

9. West Chester Tax lists, 1869. Chester County Archives, West Chester, PA ↑

10. American Republican, (West Chester, PA), 23 December 1873. ↑

11. The Village Record, (West Chester, PA),20 September 1875. ↑

12. The Daily Local News, (West Chester, PA), 21 September 1875. ↑