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1827 Burton Allen Livingston
Born: July 14, 1827 at Schoharie County, NY
Died: May 19, 1879 at Alexandria, Douglas County, MN
Buried: Oakland Cemetery, Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minnesota, USA
His Find-A-Grave Memorial ID is 49378297.
He was called "Colonel" - the reason for that is unknown.
His father was 1777 Jacob Livingston.
His mother was 1784 Sarah Van Kleek.
He was married July 17, 1849 to Louisa Angelica Settle in
Schoharie County, NY. Louisa died Sep. 25, 1849 in Schoharie
County. Wedding day also shown as January 18, 1849 elsewhere.
He was married Dec. 11, 1850 to Mary Margaret Settle in
Schoharie County, NY. She was the sister of Louisa Settle.
Both were the daughters of Adam Settle and Elizabeth Schaeffer.
Known children (Mary's; some may be from previous marriages):
Ferris Snyder
Hynd Watson
Erwin Jay
Laura (she may have died as a child; see below)
Ella (she may have died as a child; see below)
He was married Oct. 3, 1868 to Caroline "Carrie" Gray Duncan in
Stearns County, MN. Known Children of Caroline:
____ Casius W. (may be from a previous marriage)
Burton's Children (with Caroline Duncan):
----------------------------------------
1859 Stuart Douglas Livingston 1859 - 1946
1872 Guy Livingston 1872 - 1962
Caroline may have been born in 1849; this is not confirmed.
Caroline may have died in 1937; this is not confirmed.
Burton was the uncle of 1847 Solomon Swatling Livingston.
Both men resided in the state of Minnesota at the same time, and
both were born in Schoharie County, New York.
JAS
Following are three different newspaper accounts of Burton's death:
The Alexandria Post
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Alexandria, Douglas County, Minnesota
Friday, May 23, 1879, page 4, col. 2.
Our usually quiet village was, on Tuesday the 20th instantly thrown into a
state of excitement never before witnessed, over the sad and terrible death
of an old and well-known citizen, Burton A. Livingston. About four o'clock
in the afternoon news was received on the streets that he had committed
suicide. It spread like wild fire and in a short time the whole community
stood breathless and horror-stricken. Men rushed by the score to the spot
in Hole's Addition where, alone in the solitary woods, he had yielded his
spirit to Him who gave it. He was a respected citizen and a kinder or more
affectionate father can not be found. In a letter written before his
decease he spoke in the most loving terms of his wife and three little boys.
It would be utter folly to attempt to describe the grief and desolation
which his death has produced among the inmates of his house. A kind
Providence will extend to them the consolation which He alone can give. May
He lighten their burdens and smooth their pathway, enabling them to bear up
under the weight of their affliction, as in coming years they pursue their
journey alone. There was a brief funeral service at his house Wednesday
evening, and the Thursday morning train bore the remains, accompanied by a
few friends, to Sauk Center for interment beside the little ones of his
family who have gone before.
The Douglas County News
=======================
Alexandria, Douglas County, Minnesota
Thursday, May 22, 1879, page 1, col. 2.
SUICIDE
On Tuesday afternoon about four o'clock, our usually quiet town was startled
by the news that Col. B. A. Livingston, an old and respected citizen, had
deliberately shot himself in the head causing almost instantaneous death.
The news spread like wild fire and in a short time the street in front of
his house, extending to the fatal spots two blocks from his residence of
the cold-blooded tragedy, was filled with people. The facts of the case are
as follows: About 1 o'clock p.m., he left his house telling his wife when
she had dinner ready to send the little boy to his place of business for
him, which she did soon afterwards. Upon going to the billiard hall he gave
the little boy a pasteboard box containing the key to the back door of the
hall, telling him to take it home; starting himself down the stage road
turning in by Mr. Davis' house, making a circle back to within two blocks
of his own residence on the same street, and there with a small cord tied a
slip knot around his neck and then slightly bent a sapling to which he tied
the other end of the cord, and then with a revolver shot himself in the
head, the ball entering just above the right ear, thus making death doubly
sure and the sapling sustaining him in almost a sitting position making a
ghastly by prominent appearance. In the meanwhile the little boy went home
and told his mother that his father had gone off down the road acting very
strange. She immediately procured a livery team and in company with J. A.
Colby drove down the stage road to Shotwell's, where they learned that he
was seen to turn in by Mr. Davis'. They immediately turned back, and on
arriving at Livingston's residence, they learned that a shot had been heard
in close proximity to the house. Mrs. Livingston and little boy, J. A.
Colby and Marshal Walker, then commenced a search and in a few minutes the
body was found. The coroner was called and at once summoned a jury
consisting of H. H. Russell, W. E. Chidester, G. H. Roe, C. Christie,
Frank Kent, and Joshua M. Doudna, who, after Dr. Lewis had made an
examination of the bullet hole, rendered a verdict in accordance with the
above facts. A letter mailed by the deceased about noon was received by A.
J. Ames, Esq.,--after the body was found, states what is to be done with
his business affairs. The deceased was fifty-two years old and leaves a
wife and three children. The only cause assigned for this terrible deed is
family trouble, which had so long preyed on his mind that it drove him to
desperation.
The funeral service took place at the family residence yesterday afternoon,
Rev. Q. L. Dowd officiating, and the remains were taken to Sauk Centre
for burial this morning.
Sauk Centre Herald: 5/23/1879:
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Suicide of Col. Livingston at Alexandria
Tuesday afternoon the people of Alexandria were shocked to hear of the
suicide of Col. Livingston that occurred at that place, at about 2 o'clock
of that day by both hanging and shooting himself, at his house. It seems
that he first hung himself and then with a large navy revolver shot himself,
the bullet going in at the temple and passing through his head, lodging
against the scalp on the other side. The cause of the suicide is domestic
trouble. It appears that he had been caused a great deal of unhappiness by
his wife and had contemplated this terrible step to end his trouble for a
long time. He left a long letter addressed to Justice Ames, detailing the
cause of the act and giving minute instructions regarding all his business
affairs. Everything in his store was left in complete order, and had been
arranged with the end in view. Col. Livingston was well known here in Sauk
Centre, where he resided for some time, at one time keeping the Linden
House. He was a popular man and well thought by everyone that knew him.
His remains were brought down from Alexandria Thursday and buried by the
side of his two children in Oakland Cemetery. We will be able to give a
more detailed account of the sad affair next week. Sauk Centre Historical
Society/Transcribed by L B Kostrzewski
Burton's Siblings
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1801 Sarah Livingston Rhodes 1801 - 1899
1803 Hugh Solomon Livingston 1803 - 1869
1804 Jacob J. Livingston 1804 - 1883
1806 Harriet Ariantje Livingston (Stevens) 1806 - 1859
1808 John H. Livingston 1808 - 1855
1812 Hannah Livingston (Cain) 1812 - DoD unknown
1814 Stephen Livingston 1814 - 1905
1818 Catherine Livingston (Lord) 1818 - 1892
1819 Nancy Livingston (Brazie) 1819 - 1867
1820 Ruth Livingston (Swatling) 1820 - 1897
1822 Elizabeth Livingston Burton 1822 - 1885
1827 Burton Allen Livingston 1827 - 1879 (our subject)
1829 Thomas Tobias Livingston 1829 - 1917