John Livingston: a brief biography

[based on writings of Carrie Polk Johnston]

     The arrival of a baby on this vertiginous globe called Earth is a trivial local incident except to the idolizing parents.  Yet a baby may be one of those trifles, "tremendous trifles," as Gilbert Chesterton observed, destined to exert a special creative influence.  John Livingston, a red-headed baby was born in 1800, and the effect of this feeble infant's birth was, thirty years later, Plattsburg, Missouri.

     The chain of cause and effect is infinite, and one might trace the genesis of Plattsburg, Missouri back to the occasion of George Schmidt's stepping from a boat upon American soil.

George Schmidt immigrates to America

     George Schmidt, an only child, came with his parents from Germany about the year 1735, and settled near the head waters of the James river.  His parents died when he was young.  A Col. Buchanan took George to his home in Botetourt county, VA.  George changed his name to Smith.  He married a sprightly Irish girl, Rebecca Bowen.   They were industrious and prospered until the war with England began.  Leaving his wife and children he shouldered his musket and went to do his part.  Early in 1784, George, his wife, Rebecca, and  eight children migrated to Holston Valley, Tennessee.  Later, they moved into Powell's Valley, Kentucky, which was 100 miles from Vaughn's Mill.  After their supplies were exhausted they lived for some time on berries and milk.  The whole family had not come, only George and the two oldest boys.  At this time the family consisted of eight sons and five daughters.   One of the sons, Elder "Raccoon" John Smith, became well known as a preacher throughout Kentucky and Missouri.  One sister of Elder John Smith's was Mary, and her name came by word of mouth down the generations of her family.  Mary married Thomas Livingston and the son that came was John Livingston.

     Mary Smith, daughter of George and Rebecca Smith, was probably born in Virginia.  When she was married to Thomas Livingston, the name was fairly well known in that country.   One Phil Livingston was a signer of the Declaration of Independence, and there were others including the able David Livingston.  Mary Smith Livingston probably had no urge to shine in reflected glory.  She and Thomas had been brought up pioneering and this occupation left little time to bolster the ego with reflections of ancestral auras real or

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imagined.  She knew the lore of the woods, the sounds of the clearing, and the drudgery of the large family with the tools of primitive furnishings.  Labor-saving gadgets were hidden in the realm of the uninvented.  Buttons, for instance, were carved out of hickory sticks or bones and were sewn on homespun.  There were no "pink and blue" showers for expected babies, and a homespun infant blanket was a treasure.  I saw one years ago.  The discussion of expected babies was strictly verboten, although the coming event was occasionally mentioned in sly whispers across the frames of a quilting bee, or at a carpet rag tacking.  There was no Hollywood to influence the naming of the new comers and no lovely announcement cards for the thirteen babies of George and Rebecca Smith.  Probably they rated "nothing ever happens around here."

(Mrs. Johnston's article states that Mary's husband, Thomas, must have died in Kentucky or Tennessee, as there is no mention of him or any brother at the period of the emigration.  It further states that John Livingston brought his mother west with him.  She was blind for twenty-five years and died at the age of 94.   She was buried in the Livingston lot in the Old Plattsburg cemetery.  She was a real Daughter of the Revolution but probably never stressed the importance of that relation.   The only other known Daughter of the Revolution buried in the city's cemetery is Sarah Birch.   I believe the Probate Records of Clinton Co., MO dated Dec. 13 1847, for William Livingston, is the same as Thomas Livingston.  It lists Mary Livingston as the widow of William Livingston, Sr. and shows their children as:  John Livingston, William Livingston, Samuel Livingston, Thomas Livingston, Nancy Livingston Buckridge, Margaret "Peggy" Livingston McKown, Ira S. Livingston, Nathaniel Livingston, Isabel Livingston Roberts, Fanny Livingston Gage and Adaliza Livingston McKown.  John & Susanna Livingston are also buried in the Old Plattsburg Cemetery.)

     When John arrived in Clinton County, he had one sister, Margaret, but always called "Peggy," living with her husband John M. McKown in the Starfield community.  The article states that Peggy and her brother John Livingston had a famous uncle in Kentucky, a preacher, who later organized many churches in that state.  He would come to Missouri to visit his sister Mary Smith Livingston and others, and he preached over a wide area.  The preacher uncle still lives in the pages of history.  He sometimes wore a coonskin cap and this won for him the designation "Raccoon" John Smith. 

(To further confuse things, Mrs. Johnston's article states that John Livingston's other sister [sic sister-in-law] was Nancy Collins Dorser, sister of Susanna Collins Livingston, and wife of Thomas Dorser.  Nancy and Thomas B. Dorser are also buried in Old Plattsburg Cemetery.  Their son, M. Wesley Dorser married Lou Funkhouser.   Their children were Charles, Eva, Cora and Ollie.)

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(Mrs. Johnston gives a short history of each of the children of John and Susanna Collins Livingston.  They were the parents of ten children:  Rosanna, Susan Elizabeth, Mary Ann, George Cornelius, Rebecca, Louvisa Adeline, James, Walker, Thomas and John Collins.)

ROSANNA LIVINGSTON who was "Aunt" Nancy Hill said, "Honey, I ain't gwine to be here much longer.  Get your pencil and write down a few things."  That was thirty or more years ago and she was visiting in my (Mrs. Johnston) home.   What a chance!  but we settled with this, that she was born in Clay county Nov. 5, 1828, and moved to Plattsburg to the Madison Young place.   Became a member of the Christian church at the court house in 1844.  Baptized by Duke Young who came from Filmore.  Married to A. J. Hill in 1848 (marriage license in Clinton Co.)  by "Uncle" Sam Trice.  Had three girls:  Mary, Lucy Ann and Sarah Margaret.  Reared five grand-children and was a charter member of Old Log church and the Plattsburg church.   In 1887 the family moved to St. Joseph where she and her husband made their home.   They had but one pastor, C. M. Chilton, the remainder of their lives.  Mr. Hill died suddenly in Sutter's jewelry store and Mrs. Hill died later, June 26, 1923.  They are buried in the Old Plattsburg cemetery.  At one time she was a practical nurse and dispenser of sunshine and comfort to many.  She welcomed the infant's first cry and eased the passing of the dying's last sigh.