OBIT: Mary J. LIVENGOOD, 1941, Salisbury, Somerset County, PA

File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Meyersdale Library.
Transcribed and proofread by: Richard Boyer.

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MARY J. LIVENGOOD

  It is with a sad and heavy heart that the writer of Salisbury Siftings this 
week writes the obituary of Miss Mary J. Livengood, the only aunt he and his 
elder brother, William S. Livengood, one of the owners and editors of the 
Meyersdale Republican, have had since about the year 1914.
  Aunt Mary, as she was affectionately called by almost all who were intimately 
acquainted with her, enjoyed exceptionally good health in general, nearly all of 
her long and beautiful life.  Only last week the writer wrote an article which 
was published among other news from Salisbury in The Republican, telling of the 
good health and memory she still had at the great age of more than 92 years.
  Truly, it was very remarkable; but while the article was being written, 
unknown to any of her relatives and friends in Salisbury and vicinity, where far 
the greater portion of her life was spent, the end of her earthly pilgrimage was 
rapidly drawing near, and "sustained and soothed by an unfaltering trust" she 
approached her grave "like one that wraps the drapery of his couch about him, 
and lies down to pleasant dreams."
  Being a faithful member of the Church of the Brethren from the time of her 
girlhood, she decided to spend the latter years of her life at the fine home for 
old folks which her church erected in Paint Borough, adjacent to Windber and 
Scalp Level, Pa., about 20 years ago, and has maintained ever since, not only 
for their own aged members, but other aged persons also.  Many persons of 
various denominations have spent their declining years there, and it was there 
that pneumonia, following an outbreak of influenza, proved fatal to Miss 
Livengood last Friday evening at 8:30 o'clock.  Her age was 92 years, one month 
and 6 days.
  Miss Livengood was born near Compton's Mill, Jan. 1, 1849, on the farm now 
owned by John S. Wengerd, in Elk Lick Township; but not in the same house, as 
the writer erroneously said in an article about her in last week's edition of 
The Republican.  Her father erected that brick house, the first in Elk Lick 
Township, in 1857 or 1858, and was the owner of much additional acreage not now 
a portion of that farm.
  Aunt Mary was the last surviving child of John C. and Mary (Hershberger) 
Livengood, and was preceded in death by the following brothers and sisters: 
Samuel J., Jeremiah J., John J., Alexander and Peter J. Livengood; Eliza, wife 
of the late Emanuel Gnagey; Nancy, wife of the late David Maust; Sarah, wife of 
the late Henry Yost, and Elizabeth, wife of the late Aaron Kimmel.  Alexander 
died in infancy, John J. died in his 98th year, and Peter J. in his 91st year.  
The latter two were the last two survivors of 66 soldiers who enlisted in the 
Union Army from Salisbury and vicinity.
  John C. Livengood, the father of the children mentioned, was not only among 
the foremost farmers of the Salisbury vicinity, but was known far and wide as 
the breeder of the best horses for practically all purposes in the south end of 
Somerset County.  It was also generally conceded that he was the best teamster 
that ever lived in the Salisbury locality, during the palmy days of the old 
National Pike, now highway Route No. 40, when it was still this nation's 
greatest highway.
  At seasons of the year when freighting was the best on the National Pike, he 
was noted for driving one of, if not the finest and best 6-horse teams driven to 
and from Baltimore, Md., each of the animals a beautiful and powerful iron gray, 
always kept as clean as a new pin, and so perfectly matched as to make it 
difficult to tell one from the other, and all in fancy harness with bow bells on 
the hames.  The horses pulled very large loads of freight to the music of the 
bells, and so skillful was the driver that the horses pulled their heavy loads 
with apparent ease and gayety, and the team and driver attracted much attention 
all along the road.
  Among the people of the Salisbury locality, who like the famous driver and 
horseman were mostly of German Swiss extraction, he was known as "Bella Hans" 
(John of the Bells) and John was a grandson of Peter Livengood, a native of 
Switzerland, who was by trade a weaver, preacher and teacher, and was among the 
pioneer settlers of Southern Somerset County, locating near what is now 
Salisbury, in Elk Lick Township, in 1775.
  Much of this obituary up to this point, is somewhat unusual in an obituary, 
and is given for the historical value it contains.  The writer will now return 
to his original subject, his Aunt Mary and things which usually appear in an 
obituary.
  Aunt Mary would not want to be eulogized, as those who knew her well are aware 
of, but nevertheless, eulogies have their place, and when virtues and noble 
traits of character are justly stressed, we who know the facts may be encouraged 
and incited to follow the good example set by exemplary lives and try to 
diminish our own faults, and give such nobler traits which exist in most of us a 
better chance to rule our lives.
  Although Mary J. Livengood's health in general was exceptionally good during 
nearly all of her long life, she was partially blind from her birth, and could 
see dimly only the outline and form of things about her.  She had what doctors 
at that time said was dropsy of the eyes.  In spite of that great handicap, she 
was an exceptionally cheerful person from her childhood and throughout her 
unusually long span of life, and noted for her extreme kindness.  She never 
seemed to be melancholy or sad, except when good friends were claimed by death, 
or when parents were called hence from families where they seemed to be almost 
indispensible, or were saddened by the death of those near and dear to them.
  Moreover, she was seldom known to complain, and was not given to self-pity. At 
the age of five years, by accident, she lost sight completely in one eye, and 
the sight in the other was lost completely through an accident when she was only 
20 years of age.  However, in spite of that great handicap, she became very 
experienced in knitting and crocheting and at paring fruit for canning.  She 
could do much more in those lines then the great majority of people who can see, 
and do it neater and better.  Without a doubt, few people of her time and 
generation ever knitted half as many pairs of baby booties, mittens and 
stockings as she did.
  She grew to womanhood in an age when most mittens, gloves and hosiery were 
made of woolen yarn, and was not only spun in the homes during the years of her 
early womanhood, but also knitted into various articles of wearing apparel in 
the homes of that time.
  Although she never attended a school of any kind, and that English was not her 
native tongue, she learned the English and German alphabet through mental 
instruction given to her by some of her relatives, and was also taught to spell, 
in those languages.
  She spoke better English than the average person, and also spoke Pennsylvania 
Dutch fluently.  Moreover, while her thoughts were more on the serious side of 
life, she had a fine sense of humor, and knew when and where it was not out of 
place to express herself in humorous language.  There was much of good example 
in her long life, as a promoter of cheerfulness, and making the best of one's 
circumstances in life.  She took a kindly interest in the affairs of others and 
had a deep Christian faith in the rightness of things.
  Most of her near living relatives being residents of Salisbury, or not far 
from there, in accordance with her oft expressed wishes, her funeral was held 
there, and her remains were interred there in the I.O.O.F. Cemetery, last 
Sunday, the funeral being held at the Salisbury Church of the Brethren, where 
she had been a worshipper for many years.
  The funeral took place at 2:30 p.m., and was conducted by Rev. George Yoder, 
grand-nephew of Aunt Mary, and son of Mrs. Sarah Yoder, her niece, of Salisbury.  
Rev. A. J. Replogle of Salisbury assisted at the obsequies, which were well 
attended in spite of the inclement weather, and the fact that many of Aunt 
Mary's relatives and friends had not learned of her death.
  A quartet composed of Mr. and Mrs. W. B. Lichliter, Rees Lichliter and Miss 
Mabel Jane Murray, sang two favorite hymns of Aunt Mary's at the funeral 
service, namely, "Abide With Me," and "Safe in the Arms of Jesus."
  Among those from outside of the Salisbury community who attended Miss 
Livengood's funeral were Rev. and Mrs. George Yoder of Scalp Level, Miss Ella 
Musser, Mr. and Mrs. Spaugy, the superintendent and matron of the Old Folks' 
Home in Paint Borough, and their daughter, W. S. Livengood, Mrs. Frances L. 
Imler, son James and daughter Louise, Mrs. Mary Derry and son Joseph, Miss 
Gladys Livengood and Mrs. George Hady, all of Meyersdale, Mrs. Urban Stanton, 
Mrs. C. C. Beachy, Mrs. Olive Loechel, Mr. and Mrs. Casper Loechel, all of 
Grantsville, Md., and W. S. Livengood, Jr., of Somerset.

Meyersdale Republican, February 13. 1941