BIOS: Peter L. LIVENGOOD, Salisbury, Somerset County, PA

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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.