Madison County FlArchives Biographies.....Livingston, Archibald 1836 - ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/fl/flfiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Joy Fisher sdgenweb@yahoo.com February 2, 2008, 10:40 pm Author: B. F. Johnson Archibald Livingston There are pioneers and pioneers; pioneers, because of whom a country grows and prospers, and pioneers who grow and prosper because of the country. Florida, as well as every other portion of America, has, and has had, experience with both classes. The one has gone ahead conquering difficulties, felling the forest, clearing the fields, creating industries and introducing manufactories, carrying with them education, civilization and Christianity; the other, no less if not far more numerous, are content to follow in the wake of the former, and, like parasites, to fatten upon the prosperity others created. To the first class emphatically belongs Archibald Livingston, of Madison, and to such as he is to be attributed the wonderful progress America has made among the family of nations. Archibald Livingston was born in the then district, now county, of Marlboro, South Carolina, October the 10, 1836. On the paternal side he is pure Scotch and his mother was a descendant of good revolutionary stock who first came to America with the followers of William Penn. His father, the late Col. Daniel G. Livingston, was born in Glendaruel, Argyleshire, Scotland, and came to America when but a lad, settling first in then Richmond, now Scotland, county North Carolina, where resided an uncle who had preceded him in emigrating from the old country a number of years. Colonel Livingston then removed to the district of Marlboro, South Carolina, where he married and continued to reside until his removal to Florida. He was tax collector of Marlboro for several terms, succeeding in the position his father-in-law, Capt. Samuel Townsend, who had been elected and re-elected term after term. In fact, it is said, he was so popular and made such an efficient officer that he could not be defeated, and he finally voluntarily retired only to be succeeded by his son-in-law "the canny Scotchman," as some termed him. Mr. Livingston, the subject of this sketch, can trace his lineage to the one of the name famous as the guardian of King James. His great great-grandfather, Laird of Lyndsaig, married Mary, daughter of Alexander MacLochlan, of Conachra, and his great-grandfather, Duncan Livingston (Mac-an-Leigh, in Gaelic) was one of those minstrels made famous in story and song by Sir Walter Scott, "The Wizard of the North," as Lord Byron termed him. Islay, in his works (vol. 3, pp. 185-187) refers to one of the most famous of his tales under the title of " Conal Gulbanach." The mother of Mr. Livingston—Rhoda Townsend—was a direct descendant, on the one side of Light Townsend, the first of the name who came to the Pee Dee in 1740, from Pennsylvania, and James Sweeney, on the other, both of whom, according to Bishop Gregg, in his famous "History of the Old Cheraws," were "brave revolutionary soldiers." She was a woman of more than ordinary intelligence, commonsense and sound judgment, and was noted for her indomitable energy and perseverance. Young Archibald was but eight years old when his father, with his family, moved to Madison in 1844. Florida was still under territorial form of government, not being admitted as a State until the following year, and the greater part of it was practically a wilderness. Deer and wild turkey abounded, while not infrequently could be heard the growl of the bear and the howl of the panther. Educational opportunities, as in most new countries, were limited and very inferior, but such as they were, young Livingston took advantage of to the fullest extent. He early displayed that desire and taste for reading which has distinguished him all of his life, and it is to that characteristic can be attributed the large fund of information he has on almost every subject. For a number of years and when so small as hardly able to mount his pony without assistance, he carried the mail to and from several points in Florida, to and from several in Southern Georgia, and many and rich are the stories he can tell of his experience in those early days as the representative of Uncle Sam's postal department. What a contrast between a small boy, on a small pony, carrying a few letters at high postage, and the powerful locomotives, drawing trains of cars, fitted up with every comfort and convenience, and carrying the immense mails of today! When about eighteen years of age, Mr. Livingston obtained a position in the office of the Surveyor-General of Florida, and assisted in laying off and platting a large portion of the section now known as South Florida. During this period of his life he resided at Saint Augustine, and among his happiest recollections and fondest memories are his associations with the cultivated, generous and hospitable people of the quaint old city of that day and time. Over these scenes and events he delights to dwell, and it is an experience to go with him over the "Ancient City," as was the great privilege of the writer of these notes a few months since, and hear him talk of the old residents: of the marriage which he attended of Gen. William J. Hardee, of Confederate fame; of the home of General E. Kirby Smith, no less a Southern hero, and of many others who have helped to make history. From Saint Augustine he went to Washington to fill a position in the Department of Interior. He was in the Capital city and witnessed the social triumphs of Miss Harriet Lane, and also, in part, the exciting scenes and events attending the unfortunate administration of President Buchanan. His reminiscences of many of the men who figured conspicuously in American history at this time, so fraught with the destiny of the Union, are very vivid and interesting, and when he can be prevailed upon to comment upon these days, it shows what a close observer he was and is of men and events. Even then could be heard the rumblings of the war which soon after broke loose with such fury and disaster to the whole country. It was the almost certainty of the election of Mr. Lincoln as president, and the almost equal certainty of war between his own beloved Southland and the other States of the Union, which caused Mr. Livingston to leave Washington and return to the South. At some period, about this time—the writer does not know exactly when— Mr. Livingston acted as purser on the steamer "Dictator" which plied the inland passage between Charleston, South Carolina, and Palatka, Florida, and was commended by Captain Coxetter, as fine a a mariner as ever "went down to sea in ships." On the islands along the coast of Carolina and Georgia, at this time, were the homes of some of the wealthiest, most aristocratic, refined and cultivated people of those two states who lived in genuinely princely luxury and style. With the families of these true gentlemen, Mr. Livingston was necessarily thrown a great deal, and became very popular with them. After that experience, and after his return from Washington, he engaged in business at Madison a short while, in coparntership with his father, but soon the war cloud, which had been so long and so ominously gathering over the Union, broke in all its fury. Mr. Livingston, like many others of his compeers and countrymen, thought and believed that, by proper measures and without sacrifice of any principle, hostilities might be avoided, yet was too patriotic and loved his State too well, not at once to volunteer and go to her defence. He enlisted in Company "G," 3d Florida regiment and was soon made Orderly Sergeant of his company. He was first stationed a short while on Amelia Island, near Fernandina; from thence he was ordered to Mobile, Alabama; thence to Jackson, Mississippi, but from there almost immediately the regiment, was ordered to join the Western army under command of Gen. Braxton Bragg. Mr. Livingston's history during those days of carnage and of death, of sorrow and of suffering, is but a repetition of that of thousands of other Southern heroes. He was in every battle of the Western army from Perryville, Ky., to Nashville, Tenn., where he was captured and made a prisoner of war in December, 1864. Twice wounded and once by his gallantry and coolness able to save from capture and safely bear off of the field the flag of his regiment after two color bearers, one immediately after the other, had been shot dead, at the disastrous battle of Missionary Ridge, he was ever found in the line of duty and never wavered in his devotion to the cause of his country. Again, with many others of his comrades, whether upon the march, with bare and bleeding feet, tattered garments and no food save such as could be gathered by the wayside, and that of the most meagre and coarsest kind; or in the bivouac, with the cold ground for a bed, a stone for a pillow, and the blue vault of heaven for a covering; whether in the hospital with aching brow or bleeding wounds, without proper or sufficient medicine or nourishment, or in the grim prison, watched by brutal guards scarcely waiting one infraction of cruel rules to shoot down in cold blood the helpless inmates, who were often confined in close quarters with comrades infected with deadly disease, yet pleading in vain for the bare necessities of life, they never knew what it was to falter in their devotion to their country's cause or failed to do the right as God gave them to see that right. To attempt, however, to describe the dangers and trials, the gallantry and heroism, the sorrows and sufferings, the endurance and fidelity, of those days, is an impossible task, at least to one possessing no greater ability than he who pens this sketch. It may be said, though, without disparagement to the claims of others, that in the "War Between the States," the true hero was the private soldier. He was no adventurer hoping to exploit his name by deed of daring, or disappointed politician seeking to establish a new nation in which to satisfy his ambition; he was controlled by no mercenary motive, in that he wished to preserve and protect the right of slavery, nor did he, as a rule, possess broad fields or a stately home; he had no anticipation of having his name heralded in the daily prints giving an account of the battle, or emblazoned on the pages of history; he had no hope of receiving the plaudits of the multitude or of being characterized as the hero of the occasion: his only motive, was principle; his only incentive, his country; his only reward, the consciousness of duty well done. In July, 1866, Mr. Livingston suffered the irreparable and inconsolable loss of his father by death. At that time Colonel Livingston was a partner in a wholesale grocery and commission house in Savannah, a large mercantile business in Madison, and the firm had just established, at the latter place, the largest, at that time, saw mill and ginning establishment in Florida. Mr. Livingston had largely the control of the Savannah business and was residing there at the time of this sad event. Upon his young and comparatively inexperienced shoulders fell the burden not only of this large business, but, with his mother's invaluable assistance, the care and guidance of his father's large family. What that mother's aid was to him in those days, in her advice, her indomitable energy, her remarkable judgment, her keen insight, and her splendid management, it takes him to tell. Owing to the demoralized conditions of the country and the financial distress, especially in the South, where the price of cotton, its only money crop, from an unprecedentedly high, fell to an unprecedentedly low price, the firm of which Colonel Livingston had been a member was greatly embarrassed. Without entering into particulars, it is necessary only to say that by indomitable energy and superior business ability, ably abetted and aided by other members of the old partnership and by his brothers, Mr. Livingston succeeded in paying off and freeing his father's estate from all indebtedness. He continued in the mercantile business and planting until 1900, when he retired absolutely from the former. In 1902, he participated in, and was one of the principal organizers, of the Citizens Bank of Madison. Contrary to his expectation and wishes, he was elected President and though his preference was and has been to avoid the heavy responsibilities of the position, his associate stockholders have insisted upon re-electing him each year since the organization. Remarkable success has attended this bank from the beginning, and though possessing a small capital, it is regarded as among the most successful, most stable and safest financial institutions of the State. In 1881, Mr. Livingston was married to Mary Frances, the daughter of Col. John F. and Carolina (Livingston) Webb. Two children have been born to them, one of whom died in infancy and the other, Archibald, Junior, is a son of whom any father might be well proud. Graduating with credit from the State College, he first entered the First National Bank as assistant cashier, and then as Vice-President and cashier of the bank of which his father is President—a position he now holds. Though quite young, he has by close attention, admirable executive ability, fine business sense, and popular manners, won an enviable place among the bank officials of the country. Mr. Livingston has always been a public-spirited and patriotic citizen. Anything that will contribute to the happiness and prosperity of his fellow man meets not only with his earnest approval but his liberal support. A Democrat from principle as well as by environment, and always taking a deep interest in political affairs he has invariably declined public office, except at one period, when he reluctantly accepted the position of County Commissioner, at the earnest request of his fellow citizens, in order that they might secure the benefit of his splendid business ability in the settlement of the bonded indebtedness of the county, incurred in the construction of the then Pensacola and Georgia, now a part of the Seaboard, railroad. Modest to a degree that conceals his merits from the casual observer, and retiring in manner to the point almost of diffidence, he is a man of strong convictions and has always "had the courage of his opinions." The cause of charity has never appealed to him in vain, but he believes firmly in the behest "Let not thy left hand know what thy right hand doeth." He has always been an earnest advocate and supporter of, and taken the deepest interest in, any movement or cause for the improvement and advancement of education, and his abilities, his time, his energies and his means, have been freely expended in this behalf. An humble follower of " The Meek and Lowly Nazarene," he prefers that his life and conversation shall show forth his faith rather than to " outwardly appear righteous unto men, but within full of hypocrisy and iniquity." Now that his life is approaching "the sere and yellow leaf", owning a large body of real estate, in the improvement of which he is deeply interested, possessing a competency, surrounded by a devoted family and loving friends he has and, which is better still, deserves, the respect, the affection, the trust and confidence of his fellow-man, and with faith in God, who could ask more ? [NOTE BY THE EDITOR: It is proper to say that the foregoing sketch of Mr. Livingston was prepared and published without his ever seeing or reading it, So modest was he that we could not persuade him to give us even a running sketch of the principal events of his life, consequently we had to apply to someone else intimately acquainted with him, with the result here given. Any criticism therefore, either of style or matter, must not be directed towards Mr. Livingston, but to the author.] Additional Comments: Extracted from: FLORIDA EDITION MAKERS OF AMERICA AN HISTORICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL WORK BY AN ABLE CORPS OF WRITERS VOL. III. Published under the patronage of The Florida Historical Society, Jacksonville, Florida ADVISORY BOARD: HON. W. D. BLOXHAM COL. FRANK HARRIS HON. R. W. DAVIS SEN. H. H. McCREARY HON. F. P. FLEMING W. F. STOVALL C. A. CHOATE, SECRETARY 1909 A. B. CALDWELL ATLANTA, GA. COPYRIGHT 1909 B. F. JOHNSON Photo: http://www.usgwarchives.net/fl/madison/photos/bios/livingst19gbs.jpg File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/fl/madison/bios/livingst19gbs.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.org/flfiles/ File size: 16.7 Kb