Charles H. Livingston (ca. 1861-1885)

LIVINGSTON

Posted By: Dorian Myhre (email)
Date: 1/17/2011 at 17:50:26

From Story County Watchman May 22, 1885

SAD DEATH OF CHAS. H. LIVINGSTON:--Many will be grieved to learn of the sad accident that happened to a member of the family of our worthy citizen George W. Livingstone. Between the hours of two and four o'clock p. m. of the 9th day of May, 1885, the dark angel of death appeared at the threshold of George W. Livingstone, Sr., and took from their midst their beloved son Chas. H. Livingston. The deceased upon that fatal day went with his younger brother George to shoot some ground squirrels near the land they were going to plant to corn, having exhausted all the shells they took with them, Charles returned to the house to get his revolver to shoot with, telling his brother he would return soon. This was about two o'clock in the afternoon. But, alas! sentence had been passed upon him by the Father of all, and he was called from this world of woe to enjoy the bliss of the better land. As he was taking his revolver from his trunk the hammer caught upon the hoop iron of the raised lid, discharging the revolver. The ball entered the body just under the left nipple, passing directly through the heart, and was taken out near the right shoulder. So sudden was his death that he passed from life without a murmur or a groan, sinking upon his hands and knees, his body barring the door and his head resting upon the trunk, his spirit returned to the one who gave.

Thus he was stricken in the full vigor of his manhood without warning and by the mearest accident, whilst surrounded by all the loving ties of life of both kindred and friends; adored by his parents and beloved by all who knew him.

The deceased was 24 years old, of a quiet, unobtrusive and loving disposition, exemplary in his habits, kind and genial in his nature, whose only thought was the welfare of his parents, kindness toward all and malice toward none. The deceased came to this country in the spring of 1882, and settled upon some land adjoining his father's where he had resided ever since, having never been absent therefrom but two nights excepting the evenings passed under his father's roof. So much different was the deceased from our young men, that he never participated in any of their gay festivities, but his whole time and his sole thought was to make everything pleasant and enjoyable for his parents. From the kind, genial and affectionate disposition, the blow falls upon this household the more. The brightest day is always followed by its evening of darkness. So have the evening darkness cast its mantle upon and completely engulfed this household in its gloom. The vacant chair, the empty shoes, the silent photograph, will each vividly bring to memory the loving words, the kind deeds, and the gentle and affectionate acts of the dear departed one. Those who have never passed through the ordeal of giving up one of their loved ones, may vividly imagine the feelings of the bereaved, but none can comprehend them. The furrowed cheek, the tear stained eye, the grave face, the silent tongue the down cast look, give evidence of the bleeding hearts that have been torn fromt he bosom of loved ones and buried in the cold and silent grave with the departed.--[Hand Co. Dakota Press.