Joel Minnick Longenecker

Who was Joel Minnick Longenecker?

Joel Minnick Longenecker, American farmer, soldier, lawyer, State's Attorney, Judge, gubernatorial candidate, and Department Commander of the Illinois Grand Army of the Republic. Active in nationally prominent trials involving the Chicago Anarchists, and Irish nationalists.

Longenecker had been a farmer in Robinson, Illinois, Crawford County. In the American Civil War, Longenecker, age 18, joined Co. F, 5th Regiment of the Illinois Cavalry as a private on December 4, 1864 in Olney, Illinois. He served for one year with no apparent distinction.

After the war, Longenecker taught school for two terms, and – after he became of age – was elected Justice of the Peace while he was studying law at Robinson. He married Emma Florence Fitch on August 30, 1870. In 1871, Longenecker was admitted to the bar at Olney, Illinois at which time he served as City Attorney. From 1876 to 1880 he was State’s Attorney serving at Richland County, and from 1882 to 1899, tried over 35 reported decisions as State’s Attorney in Chicago, Cook County.

He was prominent in such trials as the anarchist and the infamous Irish Nationalist Dr. Patrick Henry Cronin murder case.