Dickinson Co., KS AHGP-Portrait and
Biographical Album of Dickinson, Saline, McPherson and
Marion Counties-George F. Livingston
Portrait and Biographical
Album of Dickinson, Saline, McPherson and Marion
Counties
Chapman Brothers, Chicago, 1893
GEORGE F. LIVINGSTON, an enterprising
and successful farmer of Dickinson County,
residing on section 10, Buckeye Township,
was born on the 24th of January, 1834, in Adams
County, Pa., and is a son of Abraham and Maria
(Fauss) Livingston, who were also natives of the
Keystone State. The family is of German origin
and was founded in America by the great-grandfather
of our subject. The father was a blacksmith
and farmer, and upon the home farm George remained
until he had attained his majority.
On the 15th of January, 1856, when in his twenty second
year, Mr. Livingston, of this sketch, was
married to Miss Elizabeth Chronister. For two
years after his marriage he worked on his father's
farm at $12 per month, after which he rented land
for a year. In 1861, he offered his services' to his
country, but was not accepted on account of physical
disability. In 1862, however, he bade goodbye
to his little family and joined Company I,
One Hundred and Sixty-fifth Pennsylvania Infantry.
He volunteered as a spy, and on one occasion,
with thirty others, he ventured into the
enemy's very lines to bring away a dead comrade.
He had many narrow escapes and saw arduous
duty. He received his discharge and went to
Washington. Two weeks later he was made wagon-
master and served as a carpenter at City Point,
New Berne, N. C, until sent home, having been
stricken down with typhoid fever. On his recovery
he was engaged in construction work, and was
at New Berne, N. C., at the time of Lee's surrender.
When the war was over, Mr. Livingston returned
to his native county and was engaged in
farming for three years. He then went to Virginia
with the expectation of locating there, but
the spirit of insurrection had not yet been quelled
and he changed his plans. The year 1871 witnessed
his arrival in Kansas. He had seen a paper
describing Dickinson County and its fair prospects,
and had corresponded with a gentleman in Abilene.
Thus induced to come to the West, he located
a homestead eight and a-half miles northeast
of Abilene. He was accompanied by Charles
Brenheiser and Abraham Baer, both of whom took
homesteads near him. Mr. Livingston at once began
the improvement of his land. He also bought
a number of Texas cattle with the intention of
devoting himself to stock-raising, but they all died
from cold. In 1873, he purchased three quarter sections
of land at $5 and $5.50 per acre. As
he had no means with which to buy, he made one
payment and was to pay off the rest on time. He
mortgaged his homestead for $1,000, but realized
only $885, as he paid a commission of twelve per
cent. He also paid ten per cent, interest semi-annually.
Mr. Livingston worked hard from early
morning until late at night, and by his industrious
and persevering efforts cleared the farm of its
indebtedness, and is now one of the substantial
citizens of the community. He has five hundred
and sixty acres in the home farm, and also owns
one hundred and sixty acres six miles to the
north. He has seventy acres in Industry, one
hundred and sixty acres in Flora Township, and
eighty acres of irrigated soil in Colorado. He
makes a specialty of wheat-raising and has about
three hundred and fifteen acres planted in wheat,
forty acres in oats and one hundred acres in corn.
He practices rotation of crops, and his method of
farming is a successful one. In addition to the
raising of grain, he has about one hundred head
of cattle and feeds one hundred head of hogs, his
sales of hogs amounting to about $1,000 annually.
Upon the place arc all the improvements of a model
farm, including good barns and outbuildings and
all other accessories. The pleasant home was
erected about eight years ago at a cost of $6,000.
It is a ten-room residence, supplied with all modern
conveniences, and is one of the finest country
dwellings in this section of the State.
Two years after coming to Kansas, Mr. Livingston
was called upon to mourn the loss of his
wife, who died April 30, 1873. Unto them were
born the following children: Albert Clinton,
who is engaged in farming near Abilene; Abraham
Willis, Cashier in the Kirby Bank of Abilene; Jacob
Elmer, a resident farmer of Cheever Township; Minnie
M., wife of Fiber Dieffenbaugh, of Flora Township;
Harriet Arrametta, at home; Anna Catherine,
wife of Samuel Garver, an agriculturist of Buckeye
Township; and Sarah, who died in infancy.
Mr. Livingston was again married, on the 16th of
April, 1874, his second union being with Miss Minerva
Probasco, of Michigan, sister of George
Probasco, of this county. She was born in New
York, February 4, 1840, and is a daughter of Joseph
and Eunice (Gilbert) Probasco, the former a
native of New Jersey and the latter of Connecticut.
The mother is still living and makes her
home in Holly, Mich. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Livingston
have been born two children: Bertha
Adel, a student of the High School in Chapman;
and Clarence Curtis.
Mr. Livingston was a Republican in politics until
1876. He now affiliates with the People's
party, believing that if its principles were carried
out, it would redound to the country 's prosperity
and bring the return of such times as were experienced
after the war. He is an enthusiast, and
does not hesitate to devote his means or his time
to the cause. He has a wide influence, and being
well read and of an argumentative and logical turn
of mind, his ideas are given fluent expression and
produce no little result. In 1891, he was elected
by his party as County High School Trustee, and
has been the candidate for County Treasurer and
the State Legislature. He is a man true to every
public and private duty, and has the high regard
and esteem of ail with whom he has been brought
in contact. During the past year be visited Pennsylvania
and Washington, and in May, 1891, attended
the Cincinnati Conference. His success in
life may well serve to encourage others, who, like
himself, have to begin at the bottom of the ladder
and work their way upward unaided. Through
his own efforts he has achieved success, and his
prosperity is certainly well deserved.
(c) 2009 Sheryl McClure for
Dickinson County KS AHGP