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Connor Keiser with pictures of his Longtown ancestors.
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Longtown: A
Reason To Celebrate African American History Month
On Thursday February 5th at 6:30 the Greenville Public Library will
host a presentation by Connor Keiser on the history of Longtown
Ohio. Many people have been to Longtown or have heard of it but
most are unaware of its significance and rich history as the first free
black settlement in Ohio. It was founded by Connor’s 5th
great-grandparents James & Sophia Clemens in 1822.
The Clemens Family arrived in Ohio from Virginia with slave-owner Adam
Sellers who freed his people and provided them with land. Other
free blacks joined what became known as the Greenville Negro
Settlement. As it grew, a school and several churches and cemeteries
were established and it was an important station on the Underground
Railroad.
The height of its population was around 900 people in the 1940’s. Many
descendants live in the Muncie, Richmond, Indianapolis, and Dayton
areas. A well-known tavern was opened in 1956 where Connor’s
grandparents first met. Its baseball teams from the 1930’s
onwards, the Longtown Tigers and Longtown Giants, were legendary!
Today the Union Literary Institute Preservation Society is raising
money and awareness for the above named school which was founded by
Connor’s grandfather in 1914. It was a manual labor school for
all races and provided room & board. One church from 1856 is
still active, the Bethel Long Wesleyan Church, holding services
every Sunday. The Community Center also hosts an annual
“homecoming.“
Connor is proud to continue the research his grandfather Maze Clemens
started. He will have many interesting pictures and facts to
share on the big screen TV in the third floor Meeting Room.
You’ll learn how the name was changed to Longtown! Light
refreshments will be served.
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