The Longneckers

Illinois Origin

Jennie Viola Countryman was born in Illinois c. 1862 to Daniel and Sally Phillips Countryman.

The 1880s

The 1880s were a busy decade for Jennie Countryman Longnecker.

Her father died in March 1883 and she married Wesley M Longnecker in May of that year. They moved here in time for Wesley to be listed as a carriage maker in the 1883 City Directory.

They had a daughter, Grace, in 1885 and Jennie purchased a double lot to the west of the Longnecker House from Judge George Vermilya per Walking Tour Guide.

(per Ancestry.com and the below sources)

1880 Census -  Lynnville, Ogle, Illinois, United States

Daniel Countryman	Self	M	65	New York
Sally Countryman	Wife	F	62	New York
Jennie Countryman	Daughter	F	19	Illinois
Herman Wolgmuth	Other	M	29	New York

Name	W Longenecker
Event Place	Rochelle, Ogle, Illinois, United States
Age	25 (c. 1855 vs 1852?)
Marital Status	Single
Race	White
Occupation	Dry Goods Clerk

http://www.ebooksread.com/authors-eng/alvin-countryman/countryman-genealogy-nuo/page-4-countryman-genealogy-nuo.shtml

1883 Mason City Directory

Wesley Longnecker as carriage maker living at...

March 1883 - Jennie’s father died (married Wesley in May)

1885 - “double” lot to the west of the Longnecker House purchased by Jennie from Judge Vermilya per Walking Tour Guide

1885 State Census - living at Washing & 10th, daughter Grace not born yet, Sally Countryman, widow, living with them (her mother)

The 1890s

The 1890s was another busy decade for Jennie Longnecker.

In 1890, the Longneckers moved into first house built on the double lot purchased in 1885 (sold in 1895).

In August 1893, Jennie's mother, Sally, died.

In 1894, the Longnecker family moved into second house on the 1885 double lot.

1890 Federal Census partially destroyed in a fire, so reason why not finding people there.

1890 - Longneckers move into first house built on State Street, #42 in Walking Tour Guide, sold in 1895

1895 Atlas - Still shows George Vermilya owning a large lot encompassing the “big house” and the future site of 718.  Jennie V. Longnecker is shown as owner of the double parcel to the west with the two houses on it.

June 27 1898 abstract - George and Helen Vermilya sell the east 5 rods of their lot to Jennie V. Longenecker with stipulation to not cut any living trees.

1898 City Directory has Wesley Longnecker as mattress company manager, living at 329 E State

December 1898 newspaper - W Longnecker listed with delinquent taxes.

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August 1893 - Jennie’s mother died

1894 - Longneckers move into second house on State Street, #41 in the Walking Tour Guide.

1895 Atlas

Shows George Vermilya owning a big parcel including the “big house” and the future site of 718.  Jennie V. Longnecker is shown as owner of a double parcel to the west with a couple houses on it.

Cub Scout History Walk

At 718 E. State St., 10-year-old Adam Dettmer, wearing a black apron and a straw hat, portrayed early Mason City property owner Wesley E. Longnecker.  “I build carriages and I sell property,” he said. “Does anyone need a property around here?” [Interesting that they talk about Wesley, when Jennie was the primary owner in the abstract.]

http://globegazette.com/news/local/cub-scouts-take-history-walk/article_268f42de-0d01-11e2-9211-001a4bcf887a.html

1898 City Directory has Wesley Longnecker as mattress company manager, living at 329 E State

December 1898 newspaper microfiche, W Longnecker listed with delinquent taxes.

Wesley N. Longnecker - Mason City Township Mason City Ward 1, Cerro Gordo County, Iowa, United States

Wesley Longnecker lived in Cerro Gordo County, Iowa in 1900. He was the head of the household, 48 years old, and identified as white. Wesley was born in Pennsylvania around 1852, and both of his parents were born in Pennsylvania as well. In 1900, Wesley was married to Jennie V. Longnecker.  Occupation:

Wesley N Longnecker	Head	M	48	Pennsylvania
Jennie V Longnecker	Wife	F	38	Illinois

listed at 860 (!) East State Street, with neighbors at 804 (!) East State Street:

George Vermilya	Head	M	78	New York
Grace Dilts	Daughter	F	34	Iowa
Guerdon M Vermilya	Son	M	26	Iowa
William H Dilts	Roomer	M	40	Illinois
Nellie Everson	Servant	F	18	Minnesota

Judge George Vermilya - http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~iabiog/cerrogordo/h1910/h1910-v.htm#GEORGEVERMILYA

E.R. Bogardus’ mother was a Vermilyea.  (His sister married Captain Smith - http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~iabiog/cerrogordo/h1910/h1910-s.htm#Captain Henry Irving Smith )  Bogardus lived with G. Vermilya when he came to Mason City and probably worked for him in his lumberyard before he got into the building business.

Daughter Grace (not in 1900 census)

1900 Mason City Directory

Wesley Longnecker as harness maker, living at 130 East State St.

1901 Mason City Directory

Wesley Longnecker in real estate, living on Madison.

No Longnecker in 1923 Mason City Directory, can’t find in 1910 Census either.  Ended up buried in Detroit, Michigan.

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Duncan Rule House National Register Application

The house was designed by E.R. Bogardus (1850-1927), a long-time resident and builder in Mason City. Bogardus came to Mason City as a child. He opened a contracting business in 1873. Although he apparently had no formal architectural training, he gradually began to design, as well as construct, houses, and after 1894 devoted all his time to architecture. During his long career, Bogardus was responsible for numerous buildings in Mason City. His works included the mission-style Calvary M.E. Church (1913); the Georgian/Federal Revival Verimlya (1894), (house next door, related to E.R. Bogardus’ mother)  Markley (c. 1902), and Keerl (c. 1894) houses; the City Park Hospital (1909), and the Queen Anne Longenecker house (1898), as well as assorted commercial buildings. He designed two houses using elements of the Shingle idiom: the Duncan Rule house and its precursor, the George Wilson house (1907). The latter is far more vernacular than the Rule house. It does, however, display features that Bogardus used to good effect on the Rule house: the high, dominating gable extended over a porch; the rounded corner projection, and the very large hipped dormer. The columns and protruding rafter ends of the porch roof were also repeated in the Rule house.

http://focus.nps.gov/pdfhost/docs/NRHP/Text/79000886.pdf

E.R. Bogardus blueprints - http://www.mcpl.org/historyandgenealogy/archives/bogardusblueprints

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1900 Abstract - Jennie V. Longenecker & husb to May E. Kennedy, convey