Adam S. Livingston

ADAM S. LIVINGSTON. Now that our nation is again in war there is felt a warm appreciation and a renewed admiration for every one of the surviving veterans of our own great civil conflict, now more than half a century in the past. One of these old soldiers and also an old-timer of Western Kansas is Adam S. Livingston, a retired farmer and stockman whose home is in Protection.

Mr. Livingston was born in Licking County, Ohio, December 29, 1841. His grandfather, Peter Livingston, was a native of Pennsylvania. He married Miss Shriver, and among their children was Isaac Livingston, father of Adam S.

Isaac Livingston was born in Ohio and during his life in that state was a charcoal burner. In 1855, when he moved to Illinois, he engaged in farming in McLean County. His life was lived plainly and quietly and he was past sixty when he died. Isaac Livingston married Sarah Wise, daughter of Jacob Wise, also from Pennsylvania and a farmer. She died in Livingston County, Illinois, in 1891. Her children were: James J., who served in the same company and regiment with his brother Adam in the war, and afterwards died at Sherman, Texas; Christina, who married George Hartman, of Bloomington, Illinois, where she died; Adam Shriver, of Protection; Jerusha, who married James Lash and died in Illinois; Simon P., of Hudson, Illinois; Margaret, wife of Perry Porter, near Bloomington, Illinois; Martha, who married Will McElheny and died near Pontiac, Illinois; Mary, who became the wife of Frank Tibbetts, of Peoria, Illinois; Jennie, who married Frank Russell of Pontiac; Jacob, of Sumner County, Kansas; and Emma, who married Charles Gilbert, of Pontiac.

Adam S. Livingston lived in Licking County, Ohio, to the age of twelve years, and he accompanied his parents to McLean County, Illinois, and there grew up on a farm. When he was about twenty years old he enlisted in Company E of the Ninety-fourth Illinois Infantry under Captain Routt and Colonel Orm, the regiment subsequently being commanded by Colonel McNulty. His active service was on the frontier in Missouri until early in 1863, when the regiment was sent down the Mississippi to participate in the siege of Vicksburg. He was in some of the hard fighting around that stronghold, and witnessed the surrender of Pemberton's army on July 4, 1863. With his command he then went to Port Hudson, thence to New Orleans, and entered Mobile Bay aboard the first Federal transport taking part in the siege of Fort Morgan. While there he was honorably discharged for disability in November, 1864. He was never wounded.

Following his army career Mr. Livingston returned home and engaged in farming and subsequently moved to Livingston County, Illinois, where he continued the vocation of farming for some fifteen years.

Seeking a home in the developing country of Southwestern Kansas, Mr. Livingston came to Clark County in June, 1885. He pre-empted a tract south of Minneola. He had shipped a carload of teams, implements and household goods from his Illinois home to Dodge City, and from there came overland to his claim. He entered with enthusiasm and vigor into the occupation of farming in this plains country. He began his real farming there in March, 1886, and for the next four years directed his best energies to wheat raising. In that he wore out his tools, some of his best horses died, and for fifteen years he struggled along trying to keep his head above water with stock and feed. There ensued the inevitable period of discouragement, and he finally reached a point where he was willing to abandon the locality. His little ranch on the edge of the breaks he sold for $1,200, and then moved to Winfield, Kansas, chiefly for the purpose of educating his children. Later he took up ranching and farming again in Sumner County and from there moved to Rice County, where he spent two years before retiring and locating at Protection.

In politics Mr. Livingston acted with the populists when they were strong in Kansas. He later became independent, and in recent campaigns he supported Mr. Wilson for president. He and his wife are members of the Presbyterian Church.

At Normal, Illinois, September 19, 1867, he married Miss Miriam A. Mantonya. Mrs. Livingston was born at Utica, Ohio, August 9, 1848, and grew up there, daughter of John W. and Nancy M. (Burris) Mantonya. She is descended from an old French family the spelling of whose name was DeMantonya. Her father was a native of New Jersey, moved from there to Pennsylvania, later to Ohio, and died at Utica in that state. Mrs. Livingston was one of the following children: Mary A., who married John Jewell and died in McLean County, Illinois; Orson A., who was in the 100 days' service in the Civil war and died at Utica, Ohio; Mrs. Livingston; Lettie, who married Jacob Yoder and died at Hudson, Illinois; Estella, who married her brother-in-law, John Jewell, and died at Hudson, Illinois; Belle, wife of George Van Ausdale, living at Red Oak, Iowa; and Ethan D., who died at Utica, Ohio.

Mr. and Mrs. Livingston have an interesting family of children named in succession of birth Olivia, Alva M., Sadie, Clyde J., Clinton, James E., Wellington, Orville and Jennie L. Olivia is the wife of Thomas L. Chase, of Protection, and has two children, Esther and Lewis. Alva M. finished his education in Southwestern College at Winfield and for a number of years has been a prominent minister. He preached at different points in Kansas, also taught in St. John College at Winfield, and is now living in Springfield, Missouri, being superintendent of the Southwest Missouri Anti-Saloon League. His first wife was Blanche Gorman who died leaving a son, Rensalaer. Rev. Mr. Livingston and his present wife, Alice, have no children. Sadie, the third child, is Mrs. Irvin Montgomery of Winfield, Kansas, and has a daughter, Olive. Clyde J. died at Protection, Kansas, unmarried. Clinton is a resident of Hutchinson, Kansas, and by his marriage to Sadie Mains has a daughter, Gladys. James E. is connected with a smelting company at Las Cerrillos, Mexico. Wellington also lives at Las Cerrillos and is agent of the Santa Fe Railway there. He married Margaret Bennett and has a daughter, Esther, and a son, Wellington. Orville is agent of the Santa Fe Railway at Dillon, New Mexico, is married and has a son. The youngest of the family, Jennie, is the wife of Alva Alexander of Comanche County, Kansas, and her children are Thelma, Sibyl and Iona.