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CHARLES H. LONG, baker, grocer, and dealer in garden and field seeds, 225 South Fifth street, has been active in business in Springfield since 1857, first starting in the bakery business where the old Jefferson House now is. In 1863, he erected the brick building he no occupies, three stories high, twenty by seventy-four feet, of which he uses two floors and the basement for his trade, the bakery being in another building. Soon after locating in his present quarters, he put in a stock of general groceries, and ten years ago added the seed departments, of which he makes a specialty, and it is now a leading feature of his business, and runs over $10,000 a year. His entire sales in the various branches amounted in 1880 to $40,000.
Mr. Long is a native of Germany, born in 1838; came to the United States in the spring of 1854, settling immediately in Springfield, Illinois, and has been a citizen of Sangamon county since. In 1863, he married Miss Louise Nagel, in Springfield, who was also born in Germany. Their family consists of two sons and three daughters. Mr. and Mrs. Long are members of the German Lutheran Church. He was one of the first Board of Trustees of concordia College, of this city.