BIOS: Peter L. LIVENGOOD, Salisbury, Somerset County, PA File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Sharon Trosan Copyright 2007. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/somerset/ ________________________________________________ BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW, Vol. XXXII, Containing Life Sketches of Leading Citizens of Bedford and Somerset Counties, Pennsylvania. Boston, Biographical Review Publishing Company: 1899, pp 179-180. Peter L. Livengood, founder and proprietor of the Somerset County Star, Salisbury, Pa., was born near Accident, Garrett County, Md., December 14, 1863, son of Samuel J. and Nancy (Lichty) Livengood. He is of Swiss origin, and bears the name of his immigrant progenitor, the Rev. Peter Livengood, who came to America from Switzerland, and was one of the first settlers in Elk Lick, Pa. His great-grandfather was Christian Livengood, and his grandfather was John C. Livengood, a native of Elk Lick, Pa. They were both farmers by occupation. Grandfather Livengood married Mary Hershberger, and had a family of ten children. Samuel J. Livengood, above-named, son of John C. and Mary Livengood, was born in Elk Lick, May 1, 1830. His earlier years were devoted to agriculture; but he later engaged in mercantile business in Grantsville, Md., and in Salisbury, Pa. He served as County Auditor, and held at various times some of the borough offices in Salisbury. He belonged to the German Baptist church. His wife, Nancy, was a daughter of Peter and Sally (Peck) Lichty, of Elk Lick. Ten children were the fruit of their union, namely: Ananias, a resident of Kansas; Urias, who died at the age of nine years; Mary, who married M. C. Horner, and died at the age of twenty-three; Nancy, who resides at Pasadena, Cal.; Fanny, who married the Rev. A. D. Gnagey, of Ashland, Ohio, editor of the Brethren Evangelist; William, who is now on the editorial staff of the Los Angeles, Ca., Daily Times; Peter L., the subject of this sketch; Sarah, who married O. H. Heitzman, now of Washington State; Jonas, who is in the employ of two daily newspapers in Riverside, Cal.; and Annie, who resides at Pasadena, Cal. The father was accidentally killed in a coal mine August 2, 1882. The mother died July 25, 1898. Peter L. Livengood began his education in Grantsville, Md., and completed his studies in the schools of Salisbury, where his parents located when he was ten years old. He remained at home until twenty-two years of age, when he went to Carleton, Neb., where he learned the printing trade. Purchasing the Carleton Times, a Republican weekly newspaper which had a large circulation in Thayer County, he published it for nearly five years. In 1891 he moved the entire plant to Salisbury, and on December 10 of that year he established the Somerset County Star, a Republican journal devoted to local and State news. The Star has been a success from the beginning, and its wide circulation makes it an exceedingly desirable advertising medium. On December 24, 1898, Mr. Livengood was appointed Postmaster of the Elk Lick post-office, located in Salisbury, taking charge of said office on January 16, 1899. As Postmaster, and as editor and publisher of the Somerset County Star, he is now serving his fellow-citizens ably and satisfactorily. Mr. Livengood and Minnie V. Green, daughter of F. J. Green, of Thayer County, Nebraska, were united in marriage in 1889. They have four children; namely, Alma Grace, Florence, Ada Irene, and Minnie Iona. A son, Robert, was born to Mr. and Mrs. Livengood November 14, 1893, and died December 12 of the same year.