Will later worked for the Connellsville Planing Mill Company in Connellsville, "remaining with this concern until 1909 when he secured a position as a lumber inspector for the West Penn Power Company," said the Courier. "He continued with the West Penn until his retirement about [1936]." 

Will sent a penny postcard  on March 25, 1911 to his nephew Clyde Pritts in Normalville. The card today is preserved in the Minerd.com Archives. In the card, Will wrote: 

Glad to hear you are all getting better. Everything is going along allright down here. Mr. Hays is driveing your team. We unloaded two cars to day, one of wire and one of spikes. Clyde you can bring the freight from the B&O as you come by.

His duties as an inspector must have required extensive travel, including to the state capitol in Harrisburg. Postcards written by his daughter in 1915-1916 detail the extensive time he spent away from home, and the early hours of the morning at which he would depart. The cards are spelled out in detail below.

Daughter Katherine enjoyed visiting with her Pritts and Kooser relatives, and often sent penny postcards to her first cousin, Hannah (Pritts) Prinkey, who lived in Normalville. A number of these cards, from 1915-1917, are preserved in the Minerd-Minard-Miner-Minor Archives. 

One of Katherine's cards is dated Sept. 4, 1915, is seen here, and is preserved in the family archives. In the note, she wrote to Hannah: 

Just finished washing and am resting a while so will drop you a card. They all left yesterday and it seems most awfully lonesome. Papa is going away again at three o'clock in the morning. Aunt Ann just coaxed and begged me to go along back but I thought that was a little too much. I'm feeling better again although I'm some weak yet. How are all you people and when are you coming down. Answer real soon before you forget I wrote.

Katherine sent another postcard to Hannah on Sept. 9, 1915, asking: 

When are you coming down? I was going to try and see you about Tues. or Wed. but Papa persuaded me to wait till after circus day. I had a letter from Sadie to-day. She is trying to hold me to my promise to go out there Xmas. Would like well enough to but guess I can't. Answer real soon and come down whenever you can.

In another card written nine days later, dated Sept. 18, 1916, Katherine penned:

As it's Sunday and Papa is working, I have little to do so will answer your card. It's rather chilly here this morning, suppose it will snow sometime this winter. How is everybody in the mt. getting along? Tell Mrs. Steele and Mrs. Marshall I said "Hello." Has Mrs. Marshall ever baked that cake? Tell her to save my piece until I come up again. It won't be longer than next summer I don't think. "Listen, well listen."

Hill Grove Cemetery

When cousin Hannah married Marshall E. Prinkey in the fall of 1916, Katherine sent a congratulatory postcard, saying: 

You pulled some surprise, didn't you? Well, congratulations, anyhow. Think I'll be compelled to do the same thing soon, Dad's away so much. He got home Tuesday night and left this A.M. at 3:50, and goes to Harrisburg Mon. Don't forget to write since you are married.

As he aged, Will’s health began to fail. He suffered a coronary embolism in 1935. The Courier said he was “ill for a number of years and had been bedfast practically the last 10 months except for a few occasions in the summer when he was able to sit in a chair.” His home circa 1940 was at 411 Jefferson in Connellsville.

After a fourth coronary embolism, suffered in June 1940, he died at age 73 on Sept. 22, 1940, at the home of his married daughter Katherine. He had been alone as a widower for 31 years. His remains were laid to rest beside his wife at Hill Grove Cemetery.

~ Son Homer William Long ~

Son Homer William Long (1892-1969) was born on April 1, 1892 at Normalville, Fayette County.

At an early age, he began the habit of running afoul of the law and life as a "hobo," and continued throughout his years, jumping onto moving trains and riding them as far as he could, including to such distant destinations as Florida. 

Homer as an adult stood 5 feet, 6¼ inches tall and had a medium build, weighing 147 lbs. He had blue-grey eyes and light hair. 

At the age of 16, in March 1908, Homer and friend Mike Brady of Connellsville hopped onto a train and rode it as far as New Castle, Lawrence County, PA, before being caught. The Connellsville Daily Courier reported that the two had "been sentenced to spend five days in the coop at that place." Homer's parents sent him a railroad ticket so he could return home, but the Courier said that "Brady will have to get back the best way he can. Unless they do better it is likely that they will be sent to some reform institution." 

Union to which Homer belonged

Then in July 1913, at the age of 21, he and friend Allison Ryan, alias Oliver Brennan, were arrested for assaulting and and attempting to rob J.H. Strawn, owner of the Bronx Poll Room on North Pittsburgh Street in Connellsville. He was un-employed from railroad work from 1920 to 1922.

He was twice married. He and his first wife and step-son made their home circa 1918 at 1005 Grant in McKeesport, near Pittsburgh. There, he was employed as a yard brakeman by the Pittsburgh & Lake Erie Railroad at its McKeesport yards. That year, in June 1918, he registered for the military draft during World War I. Evidence suggests that he lost his railroad job circa 1920. His address circa 1922 was 411 North Jefferson Street in Connellsville.

Then on July 11, 1922, the 30-year-old Homer took part in a crime which turned his life upside down. He and two other men assaulted a young woman near the West Yough Transfer station and at gunpoint forced her male companion to run away. Reported the Connellsville Daily Courier, the girl and friend "were walking to the latter's home at Dry Hill when held up by the trio. After forcing [him] to run they dragged the girl into the bushes, according to the story told the police, but were unable to accomplish their purpose before she was rescued by Officer Shaffer of the Davidson works of the H.C. Frick Coke Company." When Homer was arrested, the girl positively identified him as one of the assailants.

Their trial in September 1922 was front page news in the Courier. In court testimony, the girl said that she and her friend had been walking along the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad tracks near the Yough River bridge at Broad Ford. As they sat on the bank, they saw three men approach them, claiming they were special guards and that the young people were trespassing on B&O property. The men claimed that it would cost them $25 in fines. She and her friend got up to walk away, she was accosted by Homer and pulled into nearby bushes where she was restrained for 40 minutes.

Homer was found guilty and sentenced on Sept. 16, 1922 to a term in the Pennsylvania penal system of between nine and 15 years. While a prisoner, Homer was said by family members as having been chained by the legs and forced to work at hard labor. The federal census of 1930 shows him as an inmate at New Western Penitentiary at Rock View in Benner Township, Centre County, PA. Homer was age 38 at the time, and marked as "divorced," and was employed in the prison laundry.

He moved to Monessen, Westmoreland County, PA in 1937, and remained there for 32 years. He was employed by the Monessen Southwestern Railway for many decades, retiring in 1960. He was a member of the Brotherhood of Railroad Trainmen, an early union, and belonged to the Connellsville Aerie, Fraternal Order of Eagles. 

His second wife was Ruth Valerie Osterout (Aug. 26, 1901-1964), a native of Osceola County, MI and the daughter of Charles and Mabel (Young) Osterout. Their address in Monessen was 468 Donner Avenue.

Suffering from diabetes, Ruth was felled by a heart attack and was admitted to Charleroi Monessen Hospital. She died there at the age of 63 on Sept. 16, 1964. Her remains were lowered into eternal repose in Belle Vernon Cemetery.

Homer outlived his wife by five years. He passed away at the age of 67 on Nov. 17, 1969, also at the Charleroi-Monessen Hospital.

~ Daughter Katherine (Long) McClain ~

Daughter Katherine Long (1898-1980) was born in 1898. 

She married Percy James "Pete" McClain (July 9, 1891-1950), the son of Perry J. McClain of Dunbar Township. He was of medium height and stout build, with black eyes and black hair. 

They resided on 411 North Jefferson Street in Connellsville, and did not reproduce.

Percy was a veteran of World War I. For many years, he was employed by the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad as a yard conductor. He was a member of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Trainmen, an early union.

Katherine was a member of the Wesley United Methodist Church in Connellsville. 

Percy was burdened with hypertension and coronary heart disease. He died at age 58 on Feb. 12, 1950, having "been ill for quite some time," the Daily Courier reported. 

Katherine lived for three decades as a widow. She died at the age of 82 on Dec. 16, 1980, and was buried with her husband at Green Ridge Memorial Park in Connellsville.