Livengood branch

Livengood branch overview

The Livengood branch of the family includes the ancestors of Rick's father, Robert Hayward Livengood Sr (1919-1981). The focus person is his paternal grandfather, Donald Reamer Livengood Sr (1896-1975).

Livengood branch overview

The Livengood and Whittig (Wittig) European migrants were from Germany and possibly Switzerland, and the Reamers were probably from somewhere in Great Britain.

Ancestors of Donald Livengood Sr

Livengoods and Whittigs (Wittigs), 19th century domestic migrants

In 1817, when Donald's grandfather John was born, the Livengood families were living in Darke County, Ohio.

Darke County, Ohio

In 1835, at about the time John reached adulthood, John, his father, George, and his grandfather, Henry, migrated to Elkhart, Indiana.

Livengood migration to Indiana

John's wife was Catharine Whittig, daughter of Frederick Wittig (the spelling of the surname changed over time). Frederick was a German immigrant who arrived in the U.S. in 1821 in Portsmouth, Virginia.

Frederick Wittig on an 1821 passenger list

Frederick and Barbara Wittig lived in Darke County, Ohio, until just before their youngest child was born. When they migrated to Elkhart, Indiana, in 1837, they lived on a 160-acre farm, made possible by an 1820 U.S. government land grant.

Frederick Wittig land grant

Were John and Abraham Livengood cousins, or only brothers-in-law?

An interesting mystery in the Livengood family is the relationship between John and Abraham Livengood, whose second wife was John’s mother’s sister.

Abraham Livengood, who also migrated from Ohio and settled in Elkhart, Indiana, was the better known of the two Livengood men. He has been written up in a number of historical documents about the history of Elkhart, and he's often referred to as “one of the Elkhart pioneers.”

Abraham and Mary (Whittig) Livengood in a history of Elkhart County

Abraham and Mary (Whittig) Livengood

It’s clear that John and Abraham were brothers-in-law who married two Whittig sisters (Mary and Catharine), but did they also have a blood relationship (both having the same surname and similar migration histories)? So far the answer to that question is not clear.

Abraham Livengood homestead

Demystifying the Livengood/Woodruff marriages

Rick's father, Bob Livengood, was married twice, to Mary Harriet Sudlow (1923-2014) and Shirley Louise Woodruff (1923-1996). Bob had a total of 6 children, 5 by Mary and 1 by Shirley.

Bob and Rick Livengood

Rick's grandfather Donald Livengood was married three times, to Jeanette C Hayward, Frances C "Unknown," and Julia Ormes Sheldon (1900-1980). Donald's two sons by Jeanette were Robert Hayward (Rick's dad) and Donald R Jr. Both sons lived with their mother and her second husband, Edward John ("Mac") McNerney (1887-1968) in the Buffalo area. Both attended Kenmore High School and were active in sports.

Bob Livengood in high school

Donald (left) and Bob (right, standing) Livengood on the swim team

Rick's maternal grandmother, Beatrice Allen Woodruff, was married twice, first to Stanley Woodruff and later to Thomas Walker). Shirley was an only child and lived for part of her childhood and teen years with her grandmother Louisa (mother of Beatrice).

Rick's mother, Shirley Woodruff, was married four times: to Henry Joseph Campbell Jr, David Berryman Nuss, Robert Hayward Livengood Sr, and Lavier Addis Fay. Shirley had four children: three by David Nuss and one by Bob Livengood.

Rick Livengood and the Nuss sisters

Rick's great-grandparents, Willard Livengood and Martha Reamer were married only once, and their wedding was apparently the "talk" of both Elkhart and North Liberty, Indiana.

Willard Livengood and Martha Reamer marriage, 1888

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