Biographies - Edmund McLeod Longcope

This gentleman is of the sanguino-nervous temperament; full of energy, and not easily "dashed" or discouraged; failure does not dampen his ardor, nor make him lose faith in God nor in his own powers. He has known success and reverse, and, profiting by the latter, he is pursuing a career in which he has reached already, at an early age, distinction as a business man, and is valued as a citizen and a friend. His career has not been otherwise remarkable. Too young for a soldier, he has no war record; and like many whose lives are recorded in this work, he is a self-made man, who had little advantage in early life. That he has hope and ambition, is fully demonstrated in his record as a business man. He is, moreover, a native Texan, and a good type of her hardy and indomitable sons.

Born in LaGrange, Fayette county, he was placed at school early in life, and was grounded in the elements of an English education. Later he was placed in school at Houston, where, in addition to English, he studied French, German and Latin, but not thoroughly, and says himself now—"he has no knowledge of them." He left school at the tender age of 14 years, and set out in the world to make his fortune. His predeliction being for the banking business, he made it his profession. He resided in Houston the greater part of his life, having passed twenty-six'years in that city, whence he removed to Lampasas, residing there five and a half years. At Lampasas, Mr. Longcope was assigned the position of Assistant Cashier of the First National Bank of L,ampasas. The Directors, observing his eminent fitness for the banking business, and appreciating his fidelity to their interests, soon advanced him to the responsible position of Cashier; from this, he became President of the bank. He is also President of the McCulloch County Bank, at Brady, and Secretary of the Texas Bankers' Association, a position of honor, if not of emolument; and is also Cashier, at present, of the Central National Bank at Dallas, having been elected to that high and responsible post in September, 1889. Mr. Longcope has had fourteen years banking experience, and may be regarded as illustrating, strikingly, the class to which he belongs—Texas bankers. Included in his experience, we should not forget to mention five and a half years service as secretary of a Loan Association, in Lampasas. In 1883, he lost everything he possessed, by fire, but he has gone on, undaunted, and fully recovered his losses in successful business.

In politics, Mr. Longcope is a conservative Democrat, "not a Bourbon," he says, and inclines to Randall's views on the tariff; takes little part in political campaigns, preferring to give his leisure hours to his interesting family, amidst the enjoyment of a happv home. As he expresses it, he is not "one of the boys." In his personal appearance, there is nothing remarkable. He is five feet, eight or nine inches in height, has light blue eyes, and wears a light blonde mustache.

In religion, Mr. Longcope is a Methodist. He is not a member of any secret society,—does not believe in such organizations. His parents were Charles Septimus Longcope, and Courtney W. McAshen. His wife was Miss Madeline Beall, a daughter of Judge William Beall, of Lampasas, and they have two children, both girls—aged respectively two and four years—Courtney and Amy, the idols of his heart and household. Mr. Longcope is justly regarded as one of the foremost citizens and business men of North Texas.