Livingston, Arch

LIVINGSTON, MURPHY, ROSS, FRENCH, PORTER

Posted By: Volunteer Transcriber
Date: 9/14/2009 at 15:56:17

Livingston, Arch

Successful business talent is composed of a combination of high mental and moral attributes, although these are essential, there must be breadth of capacity, sound judgment, quickness of thought, firmness and justice. Arch Livingston, well-known young merchant of Fairmount, Iowa, affords a good example of this talent.

Mr. Livingston was born in Fairview Township, Jasper County, Iowa, December 19, 1875. He is the son of John R. and Eliza (Murphy) Livingston, the father born in Ohio in 1837 and the mother born in Tennessee. The father grew up in Ohio and when twenty-five years of age he came to Jasper County, Iowa, with his parents and family, making the overland trip with wagon and team. He finally bought a farm in Fairview Township and here he worked hard and became well established. Politically, he was a Democrat and took an active interest in local affairs. For some time he served as justice of the peace. His family consisted of four children, named as follows: Mrs. Minnie Ross, Mrs. Hettie French; Arch of this sketch; Carl W. is living on a farm recently purchased by Arch, three and one-third miles southwest from Fairmount.

Arch Livingston grew up on the home farm and worked in the fields when a small boy, attended the district schools during the winter months, also attended school at Reasnor. He began life in a business way by clerking in a general store for George Volk, at Fairmount, a part of two years and in the winter he attended college at Newton, Iowa. After leaving college he worked for Henshaw & Pollock at Reasnor for a year; then he ran the huckster wagon for J. W. Edwards at Reasnor for two summers, then he and Mr. Edwards went into partnership in the hardware business, and soon built up an extensive retail trade at Reasnor, but in December 1898, six months later, Mr. Livingston sold out and came to Fairmount, buying out the general store there. For two years he was in partnership with George Volk, then A. J. Porter bought Mr. Volk's interest and he and Mr. Livingston were partners one year, when J. M. Porter bought the subject's interest. Two years later Mr. Livingston bought the interest of J. M. Porter and has since conducted the business by himself, and is enjoying an ever-growing trade. He has a neat store and always carries a full and up-to-date stock of goods. He has recently greatly increased the stock, and he supplies an extensive country trade.

Politically, Mr. Livingston is a Democrat. He is giving most satisfactory service as postmaster at Fairmount, which position he has held since 1901. He is a member of the Methodist Church.

On September 28, 1908, Mr. Livingston was united in marriage with Ida May Porter, a native of Des Moines and the daughter of J. M. Porter and wife. They have one child, Ray Porter Livingston, born December 20, 1903. Personally, Mr. Livingston is honest and genial and is well liked by his hundreds of customers. Past and Present of Jasper County Iowa B. F. Bowden & Company, Indianapolis, IN, 1912 Page 907