Benjamin Long

Benjamin Long , native of Switzerland, immigrant, grocer, was mayor of Dallas in 18681870 and 18721874.

Benjamin Lang was born March 7, 1838 in Zurich, Switzerland. He married Eugenia De Vleschondere, an immigrant from Belgium, onMarch 1862 in the home of Jacob Nussbaumer in Dallas, Texas. They had one son and four daughters. He emigrated as part of the La Reunion Colony, a utopian community. That colony failed in part because most of the settlers were skilled craftsmen rather than farmers. Many of the settlers moved into east Dallas. It was then that he changed the spelling of his name to Long. During the American Civil War, he supported the Union, but moved to Mexico to avoid becoming involved in the hostilities. Following the Civil War, he was appointed mayor of Dallas by the military government in Austin for the term 1868 1870. He became a naturalized citizen in 1869. He resigned as mayor in April 1870 to return to Switzerland where he encouraged immigration to Texas. He was reelected for a twoyear term 1872 1874, but was defeated for reelection in 1874. Long provided funds

Source: Wikipedia