LIVINGSTON, Elizabeth (1868)
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Elizabeth Livingston Child
written by Drucilla S. Howard
On March 2nd 1868, Elizabeth Livingston was born; the fourth child of her mother’s family of eight. Her parents were Charles Livingston and Jane Harrocks Livingston and they were living on a part of the land which Elizabeth's grandmother Harrocks procured when she came to Utah in 1855.
Christine Livingston - the great-grandmother of the new baby, took care of the mother at the time of Elizabeth's birth.
Charles Livingston, the father was employed as a quarry man and later as a policeman in Salt Lake City. Also, he was the last construction superintendent of the Salt Lake Temple. On the first Christmas after Elizabeth's arrival into the home, he brought home two rattles for the two babies - one for Elizabeth and one for her sister Annie. (Ellen's Pt child). The rattles cost $2.50 apiece.
As the home was in the 11th Ward, here is where the children grew up -taking part in the Sunday schools and also attending day school in the old adobe and later the rock buildings, which served as school and church and in which all the ward activities were held.
John Priestly was Elizabeth's first school teacher, but she also attended a school taught by Sarah White and one conducted by a Mrs. Brooks. Later she attended school in the Social Hall at which time Mary Cook was principal and Lucy Stringham a teacher.
For one year she attended the University of Deseret and obtained a certificate to be an assistant teacher and when A.S. Kendall was head of the school in the 11th Ward she acted as his assistant.
When Elizabeth was sixteen years old a group of ward girls decided to have a leap year dance and each one agreed to invite a young man to be her partner. The other girls in the group were Annie Sears, Maggie Freeze, Emma Oakason, and Annie Livingston. They agreed to dress alike - in white skirts and navy blue knitted jerseys. They engaged Beesley's band to furnish music and one evening while they were standing around the stove which was in the center of the old rock meeting house, Elizabeth waited until young Thomas Child went over to the side of the building to find a place to sit during Mutual meeting. There she plucked up her courage and asked him if he'd go to the Leap Year dance with her.
Of course he said he would and so that's how it all began. At first when Thomas returned the compliment by inviting her to the next dance, she thought it might be just because she had invited him first to the girl's dance, but he continued to be her partner through the next two years and more and then they decided to make it permanent. One Sunday evening when they were at meeting it was raining and Thomas decided to take his mother home first and Elizabeth could go with them and then he would take her home. But the mother thought that was foolish and so she took Thomas home with her and Elizabeth went home alone.
They were married Dec. 29, 1886, by Marinus W. Merrill in the Logan Temple, and at first went to housekeeping in the 18th Ward. After 3 months they moved to Bull's house on 9th East. Here they stayed for a year. Their first child, Thomas, was born in her grandmother Harrocks' home on 7th East. A short time later they built four rooms in the rear of her father's home, and in this house -enlarged and improved as they could afford it, they made their permanent home.
The oldest, Thomas B. now a Bishop of the 10th Ward, together with Will, Stanley and Arthur, helped build the L.D.S. chapel in Washington D.C. and this gave their mother an opportunity to visit Washington, and other large cities in the east.
At the time that U.S. entered the World War in 1917, two of her sons, Harold - 21, and Stanley 18 volunteered for service and were sent to Kearney, California for training.
Stanley went overseas with the 145th Field Artillery and Harold was sent to training camp in Virginia and obtained a commission as 2nd Lieutenant. The Armistice was signed, however, before he was sent overseas. At Christmas time 1917, Elizabeth and her husband visited the boys at training camp in California.
During the latter years of her mother's life she came to make her home with Elizabeth, who cared for her during her long sickness until her death at 72 years of age.
One son, Franklin met accidental death when he was three years old and this tragedy was the great sorrow of her life.
Besides the six sons, there are two daughters, Annie Child and Nellie E. Folsom.
Thomas Child died Jan. 4, 1924.
Elizabeth L. Child has proved herself to be a devoted wife and mother, a kind and helpful neighbor and friend and a true Latter-Day-Saint.
(This story was hand-written in a composition book with a note that said: "so now you can get in touch with me by addressing me c/o Dr. W. Howard - 1005 Ezra Thompson Building Salt Lake City - if you so desire. Love and best wishes Drucilla S. Howard)