Edwin R. Livingood

Edwin R. Livingood has become one of the substantial farmer of Post township, owning a valuable agricultural property of one hundred and eight-six acres near Postville. He was born in Franklin township, Allamakee county, December 11, 1858, his parents being Greenburg L. And Abigail (Ewing) Livingood. The father was born in Wayne county, Pennsylvania, December 28, 1820, and the mother in Cannelton, Indiana, January 2, 1821. In early life Greenburg J. Livingood followed the trade of cabinet-maker. With his parents he removed from his native state to Ohio and then to Indiana, where he married, and from there came to Iowa in 1852, locating in Ludlow township, this county. Later in the same year, however, he went to Lebanon, Illinois, and did not return to this county until the fall of 1864. He settled on the farm, to the cultivation of which he devoted the rest of his life, passing away in 1898. His wife survived him about seven years, her death occurring in 1905. In their family were four children, of whom two are living, the sister of our subject being Mary Jane, who now resided in Waukon. She was the eldest of this family.

In the acquirement of his education Edwin R. Livingood attended district school in Franklin township and for six months studied at t the Elkader high school. Until twenty-one years of age he assisted his father with the farm work, but then took active charge of the place, which he operated until his twenty-fifth year, when he bought the farm, and there he now lives. It then comprised ninety-two acres, but he has since increased its boundaries, his property now consisting of one hundred and sixty-eight acres, all highly improved. He gives his attention to mixed farming and also engages in stock-raising. Here he has resided continuously with the exception of about two years, which he spent in the western part of the state, and he has devoted all of his life to farming interests. Modern and substantially built barns, outbuildings and sheds are provided and the farm is otherwise thoroughly equipped with up-to-date machinery to facilitate the labor and increase the yield. As prosperity has come to him he has made judicious investments and is now part owner in the Cooperative Creamery at Postville and a stockholder in the Farmers Cooperative Store of that town.

On October 21, 1882, Mr. Livingood married Miss Matilda Pechia, a native of Post township, born December 9, 1864. She is a daughter of Joseph and Martha (Smith) Pechia, the father a native of Vermont and the mother of Indiana. They were among the earliest settlers of Allamakee county. The mother was a daughter of Reuben Smith, one of the pioneers on the Yellow river. Mr. Pechia became a well known and prosperous agriculturist of Post township and continued in the occupation until his death. He and his wife had ten children, of whom eight are now living and of whom Mrs. Livingood is the fifth in order of birth. Mr. Pechia passed away December 7, 1885, having survived his wife for about five years, her death occurring May 28, 1880.

Mr. And Mrs. Livingood have ten children: Maud Eleanor, who was born June 24, 1882, and married Frank Miller, an agriculturist of Ludlow township; Willard Sidney, whose birth occurred on August 30,1885, and who married Effie Miller and is farming in Ludlow township on the old Livingood homestead, which was entered as a government claim; Charles B., born February 8, 1887, who married Ester Lee, and is now farming near Detroit, in Becker county, Minnesota;  Stella Rosela, whose natal day was July 23, 1888, and who is the wife of Gerald Moose, a farmer of Winneshiek county, this state; Earl Rinaldo, born August 25, 1890, who married Sophia Hager and farms in Winneshiek county; Abigail Blossom, who was born April 8, 1892, and is at home; Cecil Edwin, born May 1, 1897; Caroline Dora, July 13, 1899; Nellie Esther, May 3, 1903; and Lynn Mayhew, April 25, 1906. The five last named are yet under the parental roof.

In his political views Mr. Livingood is independent, giving his support to such candidates as he considers best able to fill the offices. In former years, however, he was a republican. He has done valuable work as an agriculturist in Allamakee county, which not only has brought him success but has been a factor in general development.

-source: Past & Present of Allamakee County; by Ellery M. Hancock; S. J. Clarke Pub. Co.; 1913
-transcribed by Diana Diedrich

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