WI BIO - Dane Co - LIVESEY, James & Robert B.
Biographical Review of Dane County, WI. Chicago: Biographical Review Pub. Co. 
1893, Vol II, pp 326-327, 452-454

Biography of James LIVESEY (pp 452-454) - brother of Robert B.

Our subject located here in 1849 as a mere journeyman workman, but what he 
has become is testified to by the magnificent buildings which have arisen 
under his wizard hand. His first large work was the building of the first 
county courthouse, and later he was engaged to build, on contract, the first 
buildings, the nucleus of, the State University buildings at Madison, Dane 
County, WI. A large part of the buildings of the Insane Hospital are his 
work, and he was the contractor for the beautiful Methodist Episcopal Church, 
the German Catholic Church, one of the wings of the present State House, the 
stone work of the new courthouse, all of the city high schools, the stone 
work of the Government building, and the large and beautiful water tower of 
the city.

James LIVESEY was the builder of the first large stone block, known as the 
Fairchild block, and has built many of the business houses and the stately 
private residences, which have made the city of Madison the subject of 
innumerable articles in the finest illustrated magazines of the day. The 
work on the State Bank is his, and every traveler across the mighty 
Mississippi River at Rock Island [Rock Island County, IL] has viewed some of 
his grand work in [p 453] the construction of the magnificent bridge, which is 
the pride of two cities.

James LIVESEY was born in Lancastershire, England, 14 May 1816, just ten days 
before the birth of the Queen [Queen Victoria was born in 1819 not 1816; 
James LIVESEY born 14 May 1819?]. He grew up in his native country, where he 
learned the trade of a weaver, but later learned what he fancied more 
congenial, the trade of stonecutter. When he was about twenty-one years of 
age, he married, in Lancastershire, England, Miss Esther WELSH, who is now 
deceased. About the time of marriage he had planned to remove to Australia, 
but a friend persuaded him to change his location and make his new home in 
the U. S. He sailed from Liverpool, 22 Oct 1840, on the ship 
"Austriaconsin," and after a very stormy voyage of many weeks landed in NY 
City on 07 Jan 1841. The seas had swept the decks and almost one half of the 
passengers had died on the way, including the captain and the first mate. 
Our subject had to turn in and help with the sick and also had to take a turn 
at the cooking. The exposure and anxiety resulted in a sickness to himself, 
and for some time he was sick in Staten Island Hospital. Finally he 
recovered, but was distressed over the death of an aunt, a cousin, and the 
latter's two little children, who had to be buried at sea. Fortunately his 
wife was not on this ill-fated vessel, but joined him some months later.

After landing our subject began work in NJ, some eighteen miles from Paterson 
[Passaic County, NJ], going from there to VA, where he spent one year, then 
removed to KY, every change being made with the view of bettering his 
condition. He spent seven years in Marysville [County], KY, and then went to 
NY, where he joined his father, who had emigrated with his wife to this 
country and settled on a part of John BROW's estate, in Lewis County, NY, 
where the old people [the parents of James LIVESEY] lived until death at the 
ages of 84 and 73 years, respectively. In religion they were Methodists, 
becoming very prominent in the church. The name of the father was Henry, and 
the mother was Sarah (BRIGGS) LIVESEY. The latter was well known and beloved 
in her English home, having filled a circuit as a Methodist preacher there, 
and after coming to NY she still continued her work and was known as one of 
the most fluent speakers of her day.

While our subject was in NY he worked at his trade, but saw that greater 
opportunities would be afforded him in his line in a newer locality, hence 
selected Madison, Dane County, WI, as his home, and has never had occasion to 
regret his choice. He ha been unusually successful in his business ventures. 
On 25 Dec 1872, his wife [Esther (WELSH) LIVESEY] was taken away. She was 
then 52 years of age, and had always been a consistent member of the 
Episcopal Church. She was the mother of twelve children, four of whom are 
deceased, three dying in infancy, and one, Esther, being fatally scalded at 
the age of three years. The living are: (1) Sarah J., the wife of Charles 
ASKEW, who runs pleasure boats on Lake Monona; (2) Alice, the wife of Peck 
DRAKE, a real estate dealer of Lincoln [Lancaster County], NE; (3) Joseph 
A., is a mason and contractor of Madison [Dane County, WI], and married Miss 
Jennie YOUNG; (4) William is a stonecutter of St. Paul and Minneapolis, MN; 
(5) Daniel B., is a resident of Seattle [King County], WA, where he is a 
mason and contractor, and married Miss C. GOLDENBERGER; (5) James, Jr., a 
stonecutter in Madison, WI, married Miss Mattie HUNT.

Mr. [James] LIVESEY was married in Madison [Dane County, WI] to Mrs. Emma 
BIBBS, nee NEWHAM, the widow of the late John BIBBS, a druggist in this city 
[Madison, WI], who died here 07 Jun 1873. He [John BIBBS] was [p 454] born 
in Sheffield, England, grew up there and was educated as a druggist, where he 
met and married his wife. She was born and reared in the same city. After 
the birth of two children they came to America, locating in Madison [WI] in 
1854. Here Mr. [John] BIBBS continued in his business as druggist until his 
death. He was a good man and excellent citizen. Six children were born [to 
James and Emma LIVESEY*], three of whom are yet living: (1) Arthur J., a 
grocer of Madison [WI], who married Miss Kate McALLISTER; (2) Bertha, the 
wife of Fred RODGER, a railroad engineer on the St. Paul railroad, running 
between Milwaukee and Waukesha, with headquarters at Waukesha [the railroad 
from Milwaukee to Waukesha was the first in WI, beginning operation in 1851]; 
and (3) Charles E., a contractor and builder of Bigstone Gap, VT [VA?], who 
married Miss Berenice PLATT. The children who died were: (1) Paul H., 
deceased, a druggist, who married Miss Minnie POTTER and left two children; 
(2) Robert N., who died at the age of thirty-five, leaving his wife, Mrs. 
Mary (THOMPSON) BIBBS, and two children; he was killed in a railway accident 
at the same time as was his brother, Paul; and (3) Emma died in infancy. [* 
The author here means born to James and Emma LIVESAY, not born to Mr. and 
Mrs. John BIBBS, since Emma LIVESEY, nee BIBBS, would then be mentioned among 
the deceased children. She died in 1873 as stated in the beginning of this 
paragraph. The deceased Emma who is mentioned among the deceased children 
died in infancy. Note also the deaths of the brothers, Robert N. and Paul 
H., are probably identical, both in place and date.]

Mr. and Mrs. [James] LIVESEY are prominent people in this city [Madison, WI]. 
She is a devoted member of the Episcopal Church. In politics he is a 
Republican, and is one of the best known and most reliable contractors of the 
city. He can take just pride in realizing how much he has done to build up 
and change the locality. The bogs are filled up and his present beautiful 
home is built where the ducks used to swim, and where at one time it was too 
wet for the Indian to pitch his tent.

Biography of Robert B. LIVESEY (pp 326-327) - brother of James

Robert B. LIVESEY, a retired mason and plaster contractor of the city of 
Madison [Dane County, WI], has been a resident of this city for forty-three 
years. His excellent work is shown in most of the fine buildings of this 
city, where for so long he has had an honorable business career. Robert B. 
LIVESEY was born in Lancastershire, England, 01 Mar 1827, a brother of the 
well known contractor, James LIVESEY, also of this city [Madison]. He 
[Robert B.] was not more than fourteen years old when he first came to the U. 
S., and after living with his family, both in NY and later in KY, he reached 
Madison [WI] when about twenty-four years of age. He was at that time a 
practical workman, having learned his trade with Kimball & Kingsley, of Rome, 
Oneida County, NY, remaining with them for a term of three years, and later 
remained one year longer with them.

Our subject built many of the finest buildings in this beautiful city 
[Madison, WI], among them being the 2nd Ward school house and the dormitories 
of the State University. He was the superintendent of the building of the 
famous Walker castle of this city, and of the old Courteney castle seven 
miles east of the city. His thorough work has been much noticed, and has 
made him a most reliable man in his line. Among the old settlers he has been 
held in the highest esteem, as he has always done much work for the 
development of Madison, being liberal with his means and always advocating 
all educational measures.

Our subject [Robert B. LIVESEY] was married in Utica [Oneida County], NY, [p 
327] to Miss Ann WHOMBY, who was born near Manchester, England, and came to 
the U. S. when very young with her parents. They settled in Utica, where the 
father, David WHOMBY, was for years the superintendent of the Chadwick Cotton 
Factory, remaining in charge there until his death, at about 45 years of age. 
His wife came with her daughter to Madison [Dane County, WI], where she 
died. Her maiden name had been Ann WHOMBY [related to husband?]. Both 
parents were members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and were most 
excellent people, well remembered yet for their many kind deeds. 

Mrs. [Robert R.] LIVESEY had one brother, Thomas [WHOMBY], who was a private 
in the 23rd WI Volunteer Infantry, under Colonel Guffy, and lost his life at 
the battle of Buzzard Bay, in LA, when but twenty years of age. His remains 
were brought to Madison [Dane County, WI] by Mr. LIVESEY for interment.

Mrs. [Robert B.] LIVESEY was carefully reared and became one of the best and 
kindest of neighbors, and was most tenderly loved by her family, but death 
called her from them, 04 Nov 1885, when fifty-four years of age. She had 
devoted her life to her children and was a firm believer in the faith of the 
Methodist Episcopal Church. She had been the mother of ten children: (1) 
Cisly J., who died in infancy; (2) Samuel, a successful brickmason located 
at Wonawoc [Wonewoc, Juneau County], WI, for a time, but now is engaged in 
putting in the boiler foundations for Pierce & Company, of Chicago, IL; he 
married Miss Nora WHITE; (3) Leonard J., is a plasterer and lives in Madison 
[WI], marrying Miss Carrie CLEMENS, whose father was a member of the 8th WI 
Volunteer Infantry, and after serving four years died on his way home; (4) 
Robert Briggs, married with wife and one child; (5) Anna, married Leonard 
PASHLEY, of Marshall Field & Company, where he is one of the foremen in the 
big Chicago firm; (6) Lizzie, is the wife of Frank GLEASON, and now lives in 
Chicago, where he is the head engineer for the Pinkerton block; (7) Ida, is 
the wife of Earnest SCHULOFF, now train dispatcher of the WI Central railroad 
of the St. Paul line; (8) John lives at home; (9) Hattie is at home and 
keeps house for his father, and (10) Prentice is also at home. All of the 
children have been educated in the excellent city schools, and all of them 
are capable of taking care of themselves.

Mr. [Robert B.] LIVESEY is a prominent member of the Independent Order of Odd 
Fellows, having been a member for years, and is Past Grand and Past Patriarch 
of the Encampment, having been in all of the offices of the Supreme Lodge and 
Encampment. During the war he entered the army at first as a mechanic, but 
later saw nine months of active service and assisted in driving Generals 
Hood, later Wheeler, and still later Forrest, back during four months he was 
Captain of his company, having built two six-gun batteries and having charge 
of $1,000,000 worth of commissary supplies and 100 railroad engines. He was 
made Captain of the company, which was sent out by Governor Johnson, of TN.

Mr. LIVESEY now lives in peaceful comfort, after a busy and useful life, and 
enjoys the esteem of all the citizens of this city, to whom his name is very 
familiar, being connected with so many of the prominent buildings.

Submitted by Cathy Kubly