Bio: Livingstone, James W. (1843 - ?)

Contact: stan@wiclarkcountyhistory.org

Surnames: Livingstone, Coventry, Robinson, Carter, McAdams, Thompson

----Source: Biographical History of, Clark and Jackson Counties Wisconsin, Lewis Publishing Company., Chicago, 1891.

JAMES LIVINGSTONE, of Jackson County, Wisconsin was born in Chicopee Falls, Hampden County, Massachusetts, June 7, 1843, the son of John Livingstone, who was born in Dunferinline, Fitesbire, Scotland, May 26, 1818. June 7, 1842, he came to this country, locating in Hampden County, Massachusetts, where he followed his trade of weaver. After coming to the United States he worked in a cotton factory until 1844, when he went to Greenville, Connecticut, and was employed as a weaver of ingrain carpets. In 1846 he went to Bean Hill, so called because beans was the only crop which could be raised there, where he was employed in a cloth factory. In 1848 he went to New Haven, and there worked for a railroad company until the spring of 1853, when he removed to Chicago, Illinois, where he ran a stationary engine for the Illinois Central Railroad Company. in April, 1857, he came to Jackson County, Wisconsin, locating in the town of Irving, where he now owns 200 acres in section 13, in company with his son James, where they are engaged in general farming and stock raising. Politically he affiliates with the Republican party. His father, James Livingstone, was born in Dunfermline, Scotland, in 1785, and died in Kircaldy, Scotland, in March, 1860. He was also a weaver by trade, and for fifteen years was salesman and manager of a large stock company. Our subject still has a tablecloth which his grandfather wove in 1808, with his name and date in the border. Mr. Livingstone was a prominent man during his lifetime, and politically was a Chartist. There were two political parties in Scotland, the Chartists and Tories. He was a member of the Presbyterian Church. Our subject's mother, nee Elizabeth Coventry, was born in Scotland, August 8, 1818, and died in Jackson County, Wisconsin, September 17, 1886. She was a daughter of Andrew and Mary (Robinson) Coventry, both natives of Scotland. The father was a damask weaver by occupation, and both he and his wife were members of the Presbyterian Church. Mr. and Mrs. John Livingstone were the parents of three children: James, Mary R. and Thomas W. Mary died at the age of fifteen years, and Thomas W. at twelve years, both dying of diphtheria.

The subject of this sketch, the eldest child, was reared and educated principally at Chicago, and when but twelve years of age was employed as errand boy by T. B. Carter & Co., wholesale and retail dry-goods Merchants. In 1857, he came with his tither to Jackson County, Wisconsin, where he remained until December 26, 1863. In that year he enlisted at Roaring Creek in the late war as a private, serving in Company F, Twenty fifth Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry, Fourth Division of the Sixteenth Army Corps. He participated in the battles of Resaca, Dallas, Chattahoochee, Atlanta and Bentonville, North Carolina. He was in all the battles of the regiment, and in 1864 they were 110 days under flue. They were marched through Petersburg into Washington, where they were in the grand review. July 16, 1865, he received his discharge at Louisville, Kentucky.

in the winter of 1865 Mr. Livingstone at tended school at Galesville University, and then went home, where he worked on the farm with his father. In 1868 he went to Chicago, where he attended the Dyrenthforth Business College, and in 1869 went to work in the shops of the Illinois Central Railroad, remaining there but a short time. He next returned to his home in Irving, ------ where he now resides. Politically he is a Republican, taking an active part in political matters, and is well informed on all the leading issues of the day. He was Justice of the Peace seven years, and is now serving his third term as Town Clerk, and November 4, 1890, was elected County Clerk of Jackson County by 368 majority.

Mr. Livingstone was married October 10, 1878, to Isabella McAdams, who was born in Allegany County, Maryland, April 10, 1857, the daughter of Gilbert and Jean (Thompson) McAdams, both natives of Scotland. They came to this county in 1847, locating in Maryland, and in the spring of 1861 they came to Jackson County, Wisconsin, where they now reside, Mr. and Mrs. Livingstone have had five children, namely: Grace A., Mary E., Margaret E., Bessie, and one who died in infancy.

1850 Federal Census, New Haven, New Haven, Connecticut, United States, dwelling 169, family 262, line 16

James Livingstone, white, male

Household Members
John Livingstone M 32 Scotland
Elizabeth Livingstone F 32 Scotland
James Livingstone M 7 Massachusetts
Mary Livingstone F 4 Connecticut
Thomas Livingstone M 1 Connecticut
William Hardy M 28 Scotland

1860 Federal Census, Irving, Jackson Co., Wisconsin, pg. 81, family 641

James W Livingston
age: 17 years
estimated birth year: 1843
birthplace: Massachusetts
gender: Male

1880 Federal Census, Irving, Jackson, Wisconsin, United States, pg. 354

James Livingston, white, married, American male
occupation : Farmer
spouse's name : Isabella Livingston
spouse's birthplace : Maryland, United States
father's birthplace : Scotland
mother's birthplace : Scotland

Household Members
self James Livingston M 36 Massachusetts, United States
wife Isabella Livingston F 23 Maryland, United States
daughter Grace A. Livingston F 0 Wisconsin, United States

1900 Federal Census, ED 44 Black River Falls city Ward 1-4, Jackson, Wisconsin, United States, pg. 2, family 26

James Livingstone, white, widowed, male
father's birthplace: Scotland
mother's birthplace: Scotland

Household Members
head James Livingstone M 57 (Jun 1843 Massachusetts)
father John Livingstone M 22 (May 1878 Scotland)
daughter Grace A Livingstone F 21 (Sep 1879 Wisconsin)
daughter Ellen E Livingstone F 18 (May 1882 Wisconsin)
daughter Margaret E Livingstone F 14 (Jul 1886 Wisconsin)
daughter Bessie J Livingstone F 12 (Jul 1888 Wisconsin)