John Livengood was born in Indiana, on March 19, 1854, the son of David and Elizabeth (Tilery) Livengood, of German descent and natives of Pennsylvania and Kentucky, respectively. Our subject was educated in the public schools in his native place and in 1874 he moved to Topeka, Kansas, where he farmed and raised stock for seventeen years. In 1890 he crossed the plains to Moscow, and there farmed. Soon, however, he was at Leland in the freighting business. This was the home of the family until the reservation opened and then he came to his present place about two miles northwest from Mohler and took a homestead. At this time Mr. Livengood had a race to secure his land but his skill and grit gave him success and he got the prize. Among other improvements, he has doubtless the best well on the reservation, it costing over five hundred dollars. The estate is one of great value and has been improved in excellent shape. He and his sons farm this with enough rented land to make nine hundred acres and last year their threshing bill alone, exclusive of all other expenses was thirteen hundred dollars, which indicates the mammoth business they are handling.

In Topeka, Kansas, on November 2, 1877, Mr. Livengood married Miss Emma A. Ferguson, a native of Cass county, Missouri, and to them have been born the following children: Arthur T., Walter W., Ella M., wife of Robert Read, at Prescott, Washington; Otto, Nora P., Urban, Ernest. The two eldest sons are married. Mr. Livengood is a Democrat in national politics but in other matters he always votes for the man.