Joel Minnick Longenecker (January 12, 1847-September 19, 1906), 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.