Sarah Livingston¹
b. 8 November 1815, d. 5 March 1903
Last Edited=30 Mar 2005

     Sarah Livingston was born on 8 November 1815 in Fayette County, Pennsylvania, USA.¹ She was the daughter of Cyrus Livingston and Berthenia Taylor. Circa 1822, Sarah moved with her parents to Belmont County, Ohio, USA. During this time the area was "but a wilderness. The land was covered with a growth of heavy timber, and wild game was plentiful."²
          Sarah married Thomas Wilson, son of John Wilson and Elizabeth Martin, on 18 August 1842 in Belmont Co.¹ He was 27 years old and she was 26. Sarah and Thomas had 8 children but only the names of 7 are known. These children are John M., Francis M., Runaldo, Philip M., Robert R., Cyrus and Sarah E.. Only three of them lived to adulthood: John, Philip, and Robert.²
          Thomas, age 36, and Sarah, age 33, were enumerated on the 1850 Federal Census in Warren Township, Belmont County, Ohio, USA. Also enumerated in this household were their children: John (age 6), Runaldo (age 5), Francis (age 2), and Cyrus (age 5 months). Thomas' real estate was valued at $1050.³ Follow the link to see the census image.
          In March 1851, Sarah and Thomas moved to College Township, Linn County, Iowa, USA. Sarah would have been pregnant with Thomas (her 5th child) when they moved. They traveled "both by water and overland." According to Thomas' biography, Mr. Wilson purchased of the Government 160 acres of land. It was described as "a wild and unbroken tract of land when he took possession of it. Their neighbors were few and far between, and Mr. Wilson broke the first land on section 15, in this township. The site was then near what was designated as Pilot Grove, a high ridge of land, which constituted a mark or 'pilot' for the early traveler through the county, and in the early days was frequently occupied as a camping place by the Indians. Mr. Wilson was compelled to haul his lumber a great distance to build his first house."²
          Thomas, age 45, and Sarah, age 44, were enumerated on the 1860 Federal Census in College Township. Also enumerated in this household were their children: John (age 17), Philip (age 8), Robert (age 4) and Sarah (age 2). Also enumerated in this household were Sarah's father, Cyrus Livingston (age 68) and her brother, Hezkiah (age 26). Thomas' real estate was valued at $3800 and his personal estate was worth $680.⁴ Follow the link to see the census image. Thomas died on 25 May 1872, leaving Sarah a widow. She lived with her oldest child, John, on the family homestead until her death.² Sarah was described as a "kindly old lady" who "retains her physical and mental powers to a remarkable degree, and is regarded with warm and kindly affection by the friends and neighbors among whom she has passed the greater part of her life."² Sarah, age 64, was enumerated in the household of Ellen and John M. Wilson (her daughter-in-law and son) on the 1880 Federal Census in College Township.⁵ Follow the link to see the census image. Sarah died on 5 March 1903 in College Township.¹ She was buried at Rogers Grove in Putnam, Linn County, Iowa, USA.¹