JAMES FURLONG , dry goods merchant, has had a mercantile experience in Springfield of about sixteen years. He was born in Ireland thirty-five years ago; was educated there in the business of an iron monger - in American parlance, hardware business. He immigrated to Canada in January, 1865, and came to Springfield in April of that year; but before settling here permanently, spent a year in Omaha keeping books. He arrived in Springfield forty dollars in debt, with no cash capital; obtaining a position as clerk continued to work for others til he opened his present store at 128 South Sixth street, east side of the square, with an entire new stock of goods in 1879. Three stories and basement of the building, one hundred feet deep, are devoted to his large stock, which embraces every article kept by a first-class dry goods house. His large retail trade requires the labor of seven salesmen, and has grown from $32,000 to $60,000 per annum. Mr. Furlong married Miss Kate Armstrong, a native of Springfield, Illinois, in 1875. They have one surviving son, Thomas Furlong, and have buried one.