Bennington

LIVINGSTON, James Henry

Genealogical and Family History of the State of Vermont: A Record of the 
Achievements of Her People in the Making of a Commonwealth and the Founding 
of a Nation. Carleton, ed. Chicago: Lewis, 1903, pp 334-335

James Henry LIVINGSTON, of Bennington [Bennington County, Vermont], was born 
18 February 1847 at Cold Spring [Cattaraugus, Putnam, Queens, or Steuben 
County?], New York. His father, Alexander LIVINGSTON, was born in New York, 
and died in 1881 at the age of seventy-three years; he married Lovina BOYCE, 
who was born in Vermont, and died in 1875, aged sixty-four years. Of their 
union nine children were born, James Henry being the seventh in order of 
birth. The subject of this sketch received his primary education in the 
schools of Cambridge, New York, whither he removed with his parents in 1851. 
Entering the office of the "Cambridge Valley News" when a lad of thirteen 
years, he began work at the printer's trade, completing his apprenticeship in 
the office of the "Rutland Courier" in Rutland [Rutland County], Vermont.

Going to Boston [Suffolk County], Massachusetts, when sixteen years old, he 
remained there a year, then went to New York City, where he secured 
employment as ticket agent and telegraph operator in a railway office. Three 
years later he returned to his trade, for a time publishing a commercial 
paper, "Daily Arrival," in New York City, which he subsequently sold, and 
resumed his place at the case, serving as compositor and reporter on the 
daily papers of New York until 1871. In the meantime, however, Mr. 
LIVINGSTON had continued his studies with the intention of fitting himself 
for a professional career, reading law to some extent, and for two years 
studying medicine, after which, during the winter of 1867-1868, he was in the 
Bellevue Hospital College. Since that time he has paid especial attention to 
such studies as would be of benefit to him in his journalistic work.

Locating in Lynn [Essex County], Massachusetts, in 1871, Mr. LIVINGSTON 
remained there two years, being editor of a weekly newspaper each year. In 
1873 he removed to Hoosick Falls [Rennsselaer County], New York, where he 
established the Rennsselaer County Standard, which he continued until 1880, 
when he disposed of it. Embarking then in the dry goods business, he lost, 
in a few months, the accumulations of his seven years of labor. With 
characteristic enterprise, however, he began life anew in Greenfield 
[Franklin County], Massachusetts, establishing a weekly newspaper, the 
"Greenfield Siftings," which he managed alone for a year. Selling one-half 
interest in this paper in 1882, he removed to Brattleboro [Windham County], 
Vermont, and took a half interest in both the "Brattleboro Reformer" and the 
"Bennington Reformer," and in company with Charles H. DAVENPORT published all 
three of these papers for a year. Dissolving partnership with Mr. DAVENPORT 
in 1883, Mr. LIVINGSTON accepted the "Bennington Reformer" as his share of 
the property, and settled in Bennington, where he has since resided. In 
March 1902 he sold out his interest in the "Reformer" to Frank E. HOWE, and 
turned his attention, temporarily, to the job printing business.

In 1875 Mr. [James Henry] LIVINGSTON married Miss Ella May SAUNDERS, daughter 
of Horace and Adelaide SAUNDERS, of Berlin [Rensselaer County], New York, and 
into their household five children have been born: Mabel, born in 1876; Ida, 
born in 1879; Eva, born in 1881, who died at the age of ten months; and Grace 
and Guy, twins, born in 1887. Mr. LIVINGSTON is secretary of the board of 
trade of Bennington, and has taken an active interest in advancing the 
general welfare of the city of his adoption. He is a member of Stark Lodge 
No. 8, Independent Order of Odd Fellows; Monument Lodge No. 8, Knights of 
Pythias; and Bennington Lodge No. 567, Benevolent Protective Order of Elks.

Submitted by Cathy Kubly