Livingston, James

LIVINGSTON

Posted By: Karon Velau (email)
Date: 9/22/2019 at 16:40:20

James Livingston

(From the 1891 Biographical History of Pottawattamie County, Iowa, p.579)
JAMES LIVINGSTON, one of the substantial farmers of Valley Township, is descended from an old American family of Scotch descent. His great-grandfather came from Scotland and settled in Washington Co, Pennsylvania, and afterward moved to Mercer Co, same state. William LIVINGSTON, his son and the grandfather of our subject, was born in Pennsylvania and was married to Margaret MATHEWS. They were the parents of 7 children: Mary, Margaret, James, David, Hugh, Marshall and William. The father was a farmer near Wilmington, Pennsylvania and lived to the age of 86 years; he was a member of the United Presbyterian Church. Hugh LIVINGSTON, father of our subject, was born in Pennsylvania in 1811 and was a cabinet maker by trade which business he followed in his native state until 1853. He was married in Mercer Co. to Elizabeth SMITH, daughter of Richard and Phoebe (WOODHOUSE) SMITH. The father was born in Stonebridge, England, and was the father of ten children.

To Mr. and Mrs. LIVINGSTON were also born ten children, viz.: Mary, Phoebe, Margaret, Elizabeth, Zilpah, James, Milton, Charles, Dewitt C. and Wm. W. The father followed his trade in Mercer Co, Pennsylvania until 1850 when he removed to Rock Island, Illinois and remained three years. In 1853 he removed to Scott Co., Iowa, where he was among the early pioneers. He remained there about three years and in 1856 returned to Rock Island, Illinois, and bought a farm, remaining three years. He sold this place and in 1876 came to Pottawattamie County settling in James Township where he died in 1885. He and his wife were both members of the Presbyterian Church. James LIVINGSTON, the subject, was born in Mercer Co, Pennsylvania, May 27, 1839 and was reared to the life of a farmer. August 13, 1862 at age 23, he enlisted in Company C., 2nd Iowa Volunteer Cavalry and was in the battles of Coffeeville, Mississippi, Salinsburg, Colliersville, Tupelo, in the destruction of the railroad at Osford, Mississippi. He first served 18 months and then re-enlisted in the same company and regiment and served as a veteran for 20 months, making altogether 38 months, and was neither wounded nor in the hospital. He was mustered out at Davenport, Iowa, October 4, 1865 and was honorably discharged at Selma, Alabama. After the war, Mr. Livingston settled on a farm in Rock Island Co, Illinois, where he lived one year when he came to Scott Co, Iowa, where he lived until March 1868. In that year he came to Pottawattamie County and settled on his present farm of 80 acres of wild land.

He was married in Scott county, Iowa, to Emily DULIN, daughter of James and Almira (DANFORTH) DULIN. The father was born in Virginia in 1812, and was a farmer. His father, John DULIN, an Irishman by birth, was a soldier in the War of 1812 and died in Virginia. Mr. DULIN went to Ohio when young and in 1843 settled in Scott Co, Iowa where he was one of the early pioneers. He was a substantial farmer and lived to the age of 71 years. His wife was born in 1812 and died at the age of 73 years. They were the parents of nine children: Thomas, Bushrod, James, Alfred, Eleazer, Emily, Clara, Elizabeth and John. Mrs. DULIN was a member of the Christian Church. Mr. DULIN was a hard working man and well known to all the old settlers. To Mr and Mrs Livingston have been born six children: Hugh, James, Joseph, Bessie, Emma M. and Katie. James was married to Clara McMASTERS and they have one child, Hugh. He is now a butcher at Hancock.