REV. JOHN F. DELONG, D.D., was born on the hold homestead near Bowers Station, Nov. 8, 1847, and was reared on the farm. He attended, in addition to the local school, Wyoming Seminary, Kingston, New York, and the Keystone Normal School at Kutztown, and in the fall of 1868 entered the sophomore class at Franklin and Marshall College from which he was graduated in the spring of 1871 with highest honors. In the fall of the same year he entered the Theological seminary at Lancaster, Pa., from which he was graduated in the spring of 1874. In June of the same year he took charge of Emanuel's Reformed congregation in Williamsport, Pa., and continued as its pastor until December 1879, when he accepted a call from the Bellefonte charge, which he served until May 1886. During his pastorate there, both the parsonage and the church were rebuilt. From 1886 to 1891 he served the First Reformed Church at Lewisburg, Pa., and from 1891 to 1905 the Reformed congregation of Freemansburg, Pa. In connection with the latter congregation he also served the Rittersville Reformed congregation from 1891 to 1900 and the newly organized congregation of West Bethlehem. In the summer of 1905 he resigned his charge and retired from the active ministry. Rev. DeLong is a careful student, clear thinker and earnest preacher. He stands high in the council of his church and in classical and synodical gatherings his advice is frequently sought. He is one of the leaders of thought in his church, especially in the line of liturgies, of which he is a master. In recognition of his ability, scholarship and character, his alma mater conferred upon him the honorary degree of Doctor of Divinity. He served as a member of the board of trustees of the Allentown College for Women from the time the college passed under the control of Eastern Synod until the fall of 1912, when he resigned on account of fading health.

Rev. DeLong is married to Amanda Laubach, a daughter of Samuel Laubach . The family resides in their beautiful home on Broad street, West Bethlehem, and are happy in their large circle of acquaintances and friends.