Livingston, William O.

LIVINGSTON, BRUCE, PROUTY, HILL, CURRIER, ELROD, LUST, LEWIS

Posted By: Volunteer Transcriber
Date: 9/14/2009 at 15:59:56

Livingston, William O.

An enumeration of those men who have won honor and public recognition for themselves and at the same time have honored the locality where they belong, would be incomplete were there failure to make specific mention of the progressive and public spirited citizen whose name forms the caption of this sketch. A life of earnest and persistent endeavor has placed Mr. Livingston in comfortable circumstances and his career has been so ordered as to win the earnest esteem of all who know him.

William O. Livingston, one of Jasper County's extensive land owners and able public officials, was born in Morrow County, Ohio, May 1, 1851, and he is the son of Charles M. and Nancy D. (Bruce) Livingston, his father being a native of the state of New York and his mother of Virginia, there being hardy Scotch ancestors on both sides of the house, and many of their strong characteristics have outcropped in the subject. The father was a farmer and carpenter of the old school. He was one of those men, rarely seen nowadays, who could go into the woods, with an adze, broad axe and a few simple tools familiar to the pioneers, and hew out and build a house complete. He was an all-around mechanic. He was married in Ohio, to which state the parents of himself and wife had emigrated from their respective states in an early day, and there Mr. and Mrs. Charles M. Livingston made their home for twenty-three, years. In 1856 the father of the subject and his parents came to Iowa, settling on two hundred and sixteen acres of fine land near Monroe, in the edge of Marion County. Here they established a good home, became influential among the pioneer element, and as they prospered the father added to his original holdings until he had a farm of three hundred and thirty-six acres. But this family had been preceded here by Thomas and John Livingston, brothers of Charles M., who located in Jasper County.

William O. Livingston is one of a family of six children, two of whom are deceased; Thomas died when a child in Ohio; Anna E. married Judge Prouty, and died in Pella; Mrs. G. W. Hill lives at Long Beach, California; Mrs. Edward J. Currier lives in Grand Junction, Colorado; Charles B. lives on the home farm near Monroe, Iowa; William O. of this review. The father of these children died in 1892 as a result of a runaway accident, being then seventy-seven years of age. He was preceded to the grave by his wife some three years, she being seventy-two years old. They were both teachers in early life, and all through life took an abiding interest in all educational matters; they were high-minded, hospitable, obliging and good people in every respect.

When twenty-one years of age, the son, William O., began working for himself, remaining on the home farm until he was twenty-eight years old. Then he left the homestead and moved over into Jasper County, buying a place near Monroe, and he moved thereto in 1882 and has resided here ever since, with the exception of considerable time spent on western trips. This farm originally consisted of one hundred and sixty acres. It was a fine farm and very productive, and, under Mr. Livingston's able management, brought ample rewards for the labor expended upon it. By exceptionally good management, close application and honest effort Mr. Livingston has added to his original purchase until he is now the owner of eight hundred and sixty-nine acres of as valuable and desirable land as this locality affords. In addition to his extensive farming interests he has long engaged extensively in stock raising, being an excellent judge of all kinds of livestock, and no small part of his annual income has been derived from this source. He has kept his land well improved and well tilled. He has a beautiful, modern and neatly kept home and many substantial and convenient outbuildings. He is a stockholder in the First National Bank of Monroe, and he has been very successful in a financial way. For the past five years he has led a more or less retired life.

On May 25, 1876, Mr. Livingston was united in marriage with Mary J. Elrod, who was born in Pennsylvania, June 21, 1856, the daughter of William and Catherine Elrod, a splendid old family of the Keystone state, of which they are both natives. They grew up, were educated and married there, and in 1868 immigrated to Monroe, Jasper County, Iowa. They are both now deceased.

Seven children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Livingston, namely: Two died in infancy; William, the youngest of the number, died when eighteen months old; E. Clyde lives on one of his father's farms; Mamie D. is the wife of Albert Lust and they live on one of the farms; Catherine M. married Beal Lewis and they live on the home farm; Charles B. is at home.

While Mr. Livingston has always taken a keen interest in political affairs and whatever tended to promote the interests of his locality, he has never aspired to public positions, and the fact that he is holding a County office at this writing is a case of the office seeking the man. He is now serving his second term as County supervisor, and he has handled its affairs in such a manner as to reflect much credit upon himself and to the satisfaction of all concerned, irrespective of political creeds. The new courthouse has been constructed during his term of office, and he is a member of the first board that has convened in the splendid new building. He was formerly chairman of the board for a year. He is a worthy member of the Baptist Church at Monroe, of which he is a deacon. Past and Present of Jasper County Iowa B. F. Bowden & Company, Indianapolis, IN, 1912 Page 902