LIVINGSTON, Daniel Harrocks (1875)
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Daniel Harrocks Livingston - Legacy of a Cherished Grandfather
- Compiled by David Starr Jorgensen
Preface
- by David Starr Jorgensen
I am honored to write about Daniel Harrocks Livingston and his dear wife Annie Armstrong Livingston, their background lineage and their life’s accomplishments. I knew these people just a short 8 and 9 years. Those years were retirement years for both and a time of dementia for Annie. They were my wife Janis’ grandparents. They were the only grandparents that I knew (my grandparents never came to America). Annie was a fine and proper woman, the daughter of the Salt Lake City Mayor, Francis Armstrong. She was a handsome and lovely woman. Grandfather Dan was partially involved with a ranch in Duchesne, Utah, which he disposed of during those years. I am not sure, but I believe that it was his ranch that was sold to Folke Marin who’s tax returns I worked for the Duchesne ranch.
Before Annie died, Dan would come to my father’s floral shop, always with a jovial mood and a big smile, with greetings to my father “Hello Theodore!” He would select just a flower bud to take home to his dear wife Annie.
Little did I know of his entrepreneurship and his accomplishments. I have tried, in this booklet, to briefly outline his life’s work. The sum-total of his endeavors are truly overwhelming to me. I am in total awe of this couple.
Memories of Grandfather Livingston 1932 – 1953
- by Daniel Stohl Livingston, a Grandson
During the first 8 years of my life, I recall Grandfather at his home on 7th East street and 1st South street in Salt Lake City, Utah, where he would welcome us, carve the turkey and meats and bless the food. I was always comfortable in his presence and would look forward to visits. I thought it was odd that he was gone to his ranch in Nevada or to his Sister’s ranch in Delta, Utah a good part of the time, while Annie (“Nana”) remained at home. Frequently, in his absence, I would go with my Dad to help mow the lawn, weed the garden and clean the yard.
The summer of 1939, I was 8 years old and finally allowed to join my two brothers (Gene and Lohr) at the Moapa ranch for the summer. It was named the “Hidden Valley Ranch” and was not visable from the highway that went from St. George, Utah to Las Vegas, Nevada, even though it was only a mile from the highway. The Muddy river passed through the ranch and provided the water for irrigation and for the livestock. Our drinking water was brought from the railroad car in Moapa in 50 gallon drums.
In 1940 and 1941, my brother Lohr and I went to the ranch, but then Grandfather leased it to a company that bought it from him a year or so later. During the three summers with Grandfather, I learned a lot about him. He could do everything that was needed, including using his teams to plant, to mow, to rake, to plow and to clear the ditch that ran some two miles through the property. He could also repair most everything, as well as cook, clean, wash clothes and supervise those who occasionally worked for him. He established a few rules for us and insisted we adhere to them. He also gave us the opportunity to learn how to swim, to drive his car (it took both of us to do so as Lohr could not steer and shift at the same time), to trap animals, to hunt and to ride horses wherever we chose. He was well liked by those he dealt with in Moapa, Las Vegas and Glendale. I considered him a “Great” Grandpa.
In 1946 (I was fifteen) he had purchased a ranch in Duchesne, Utah. It was ideal for deer hunting, but otherwise I was surprised that it was far less productive than the Hidden Valley Ranch in Moapa. I now surmise that it was his get-a-way from city life, because by then he and grandmother Annie were living in an apartment on T street in Salt Lake City. I don’t recall exactly how long he kept the place, but I believe not more than four or five years.
My last visits with him were during my senior year at college (1952-1953. He and Dad and Uncle Blaine Wilson would loudly discuss politics and Aunt Belle Livingston Wilson would boss him around, but he was still congenial and very loving and supportive of Grandmother (who was suffering from dementia). My memory of Daniel H. Livingston was that I am proud to share his name as he was everything I could ask for as a Grandfather. He was honest, hard working, successful, in spite of the depression of 1929, religious to the degree he deemed appropriate, a Good family leader who was loved by his wife and children, liked and respected by his peers and siblings, and willing to take two or three grandsons for three months each year from 1936 thru 1941 and single handed feed and guide them through wonderful vacation experiences.
Memories of Grandfather Livingston
- by David Starr Jorgensen,a grandson-in-law
I met Grandfather Livingston occasionally while I was courting my future wife, at the home on 1784 Herbert Avenue. He was a very pleasant and had a persona of happiness about him. After Janis and I were married, I saw him more often. I met his wife Annie when they were living on “T” Street. Annie was already suffering from dementia, but had a persona of elegance about her. She was a very lovely women of whom I respected very much. Grandfather Dan was a very down-to-earth person with a smile every time we met.
Grandfather Dan would very often come to my Father’s Floral and as he entered the store, he would greet my father with “Hello Theodore, how are you today?” He always bought or was given a single flower to take home to his Annie.
I remember well the thanksgiving dinners at aunt Belle’s home, and the discussions that would follow when the men got together after meal time. These are memories a person misses so much, and as we grow older, and they leave us, one always wonders if we matched up to their expectations.
Little did I know of Grandfather Dan’s ranching expertise and holdings or his organizational expertise and positions in industry. This research has opened my eyes and my heart. I respect this beautiful man so much and I am awed greatly by his efforts and his skills.
Castle Valley Coal Company
Daniel was one of the directors of the Castle Valley Coal Co. The following was in the Eastern Utah Advocate, August 6, 1914. Castle Valley Coal Co. held its annual meeting in Evanston, Wyoming. Present were J. H. Mays, president, E. L. Carpenter, 1st Vice-President, Moroni Heiner, 2nd Vice-President, J. E. Forrester, Secretary and Treasurer, Directors; D. H. Livingston W. S. Mc Cornick, H. R. MacMillan,The old Board of Directors re-elected.
In late 1906 a group of independent businessmen began to develop the coal reserves in the region east of Helper near what is now Kenilworth. A coal company, appropriately called Independent Coal & Coke Company, was organized by L. H. Curtis, F. A. Sweet, W. C. Orem, C. N. Strevell and James H. Patterson, all of Salt Lake City, and A. J. Orem. The organizers chose the independent name because of the new company’s independence from any large corporate or railroad interests. The new coal company was incorporated on October 13, 1906 in Wyoming to develop coal property north of Price. The Orems later organized the Castle Valley Coal Company.
The production of the Castle Valley Coal Company during mid 1911 was about 500 tons daily, increasing to about 1,000 tons per day by September 1, 1911. The coal was mined with machine under-cutters and hauled from the mine in four-ton wooden and steel mine cars, using three Goodman 12-ton and one Goodman 6-ton electric locomotives in the mine haulage. After leaving the mine, the loaded mine cars were lowered to the tipple at Mohrland through the use of a 7,000 foot, four-foot gauge, double-track gravity tramway, which had a maximum downward grade of nine percent. The Castle Valley mine was noted for not needing timbering within the mine, as was the Hiawatha mine, an advantage of the particular hardness of the coal produced by the two mines. The coal at the Castle Valley mine came from three different veins, located one above the other, with all three veins totaling sixty-three feet thick in veins of from seven to twenty three thick. (Higgins: Castle Valley, pp. 15-18)
According to a local newspaper, “On October 5, 1912, the Salt Lake and Utah Railroad Company was formed by A. J. Orem,( Namesake of Orem, Utah) a Nevada mining man, to build an electric inter-urban line between Salt Lake City and the vicinity of Provo. It was completed in 1914 and began regular service, Salt Lake to Provo, on July 24th of that year.
Castle Valley Coal Company’s holdings consisted of 4,000 acres of coal lands located in Emery County, about two miles south of the line with Carbon County, along with 1,200 acres of ranch land and future town site, and the entire flow of Cedar Creek. The company was organized by James H. Mays, Moroni Heiner, A. J. Orem, Walter C. Orem, and Windsor V. Rice, James G. Berryhill, and W. W. Armstrong.
Castle Valley Railrad
Daniel had stock in the Castle Valley Railroad as follows;Article IV. The capital stock of this corporation shall be One Hundred Thousand Dollars ($100,000.00), divided into Ten Thousand (10,000) shares, of the par value of Ten ($10.00) dollars each. The amount of the capital stock subscribed for an taken by each of the incorporators, and the residence of said incorporators is as follows:
Moroni Heiner 10 shares, Morgan, Utah Elmer O. Leatherwood 10 shares, Salt Lake City C. B. Oliver 10 shares, Salt Lake City W. C. Orem 10 shares, Salt Lake City Daniel H. Livingston 10 shares, Salt Lake City Roswell M. Heiner 10 shares, Salt Lake City James H. Mays 10 shares, Salt Lake City
The amount of the capital stock taken by other subscribers is as follows: Castle Valley Coal Co. 1000 shares Windsor V. Rice 10 shares, Salt Lake City James G. Berryhill 10 shares, De Moines, Iowa Frank M. Orem 10 shares, Boston, Mass.
The balance of said capital stock, to wit, …………etc.
Moapa Garden Company
Daniel was also involved with the Moapa Garden Company. The following was recorded by J. Stokes, Jr., Secretary Moapa Garden Company, Office 514 Templeton Bldg., Salt Lake City, Utah.
Notice of Assessment. office and principal place of business, Salt Lake City, Utah. Notice is hereby given that at a regularly and duly called meeting of the directors of the Moapa Garden Company, held on the 14th day of September 1909, at the office of the manager of the corporation, D. H. Livingston, Boston block, Salt Lake City, Utah, an assessment of 10 per cent per share was levied upon the capital stock of the corporation issued and outstanding, payable on or before the 22nd day of October, A. D. 1909, to the acting treasurer, D. H. Livingston, 1003 Boston block, Salt Lake City, Utah. Any stock upon which this assessment or any part of the same shall remain unpaid on the 22nd day of October, 1909 will be delinquent and will be advertised for sale at public auction, and unless payment is made before will be sold on Wednesday, the 10th day of November, A. D. 1909, at 10 o’clock A. M.. at the office of D. H. Livingston aforesaid, to pay the delinquent assessment thereon, together with costs of advertising and costs of sale.
Coalville Ranch
The Coalville Ranch was located about four miles north of Coalville, Utah. The ranch is now under Echo Lake Summit County, Utah
Hazel Livingston, Dan H. Livingston’ sister married Angus Maxwell April 26, 1916 in the Salt Lake Temple. He was born in Peoa, Utah on March 2, 1892 and lived there until he served a two year mission in North and South Carolina from 1913 to 1915. When he returned to Utah he was hired on as the ranch foreman on Hazel’s brother Dan H. Livingston’s ranch. Dan lost the ranch about 1921, and Angus went to Grasscreek and worked in the coal mine. After Hazel and He were married, Angus served as a counselor in the Bishopric. His father Arthur Maxwell also served as a Bishop in Peoa, Utah. Hazel and Angus had three children, Daniel Livingston, named after Daniel Harrocks Livingston, Arthur Livingston and Margaret Livingston.
The ranch was lost 1n 1921, to the severe depression (see Delta Ranch pg. 27). The Government purchased the land about that time for the construction of the Echo Dam at nearby Echo Junction. The construction itself was started in 1924, and it would have taken the government approximately three years or so to gain the land, water rights and rights of way for the site of the dam and reservoir area. Also, during this time the usual clearances with governmental departments, department of Indian affairs, down-stream affected communities and the consignments of power facilities operations along with irrigation rights and rights of way.
Photo of dam What was once the Dan H. Livingston ranch now lies beneath Echo dam and reservoir. A choice piece of land at 5000 plus feet above sea level, with about 10 to 15 degrees cooler temperature than that of Salt Lake City.
Capalapa – Moapa Fruitland Company
Soon after 1905, a group of Salt Lake City businessmen, among whom were E.J. Robertson, Joe Cannon and George Q. Cannon, Jr (there were others), bought a large tract of land in the central part of the Moapa Valley, Nevada. They purchased the land from Brigham Whitmore, who had previously purchased it from a man named Harris. They formed a stock company with the name Moapa Fruitland Company.
The plan was to sell each purchaser ten acers of land and also to sell him stock in the company. Each man was to work for the company and also to work for his own ten acres. There was a slogan being recited about that time which read, “Take care of ten acres in Clark County and ten acres in Clark County will take care of you.” Among the first group of settlers or purchasers to come to Moapa Fruitland Company where the following: Rushton, Sheets, Bost, Lewis and with families. Then there were the Pixton brothers, Burton aqhnd McCormick, Wenig. It was the Pixton brothers who thought up the name “Capalapa” as a c0ontraction of the fancy title of “Capital of the Moapa Valley.” One of the first crops raised after land had been cleared and houses erected was that of cantaloupes. They sold for about 22 cents and 24 cents per crate. And the crates they were shipped in cost 14 cents. Thus the people did not realize any profit from the venture. But the company provided work, so the people were able to subsist another season. The first manager of the ranch was a man named Joseph Lawerence then mr. Fred Rushton was the manager for a time.
On January 1, 1910, came a huge flood which played havoc with the land that had been prepared for crops. In this flood 110 little pigs were washed away. The old pigs managed to escape. After the flood several men left the company, and Mr. Rushton was replaced by Orrin Jarvis as manager. Later Jim Ivers took charge of the ranch. He was also interested in the Weber Ranch. Soon Capalapa was sold to Dan Livingston, W. W. Armstrong and others in Salt Lake City. Mr. Livingston put Edwin Marshall and Dave Congar on the ranch and later John A. Ovard (husband of Grace Livingston, Dan’s Sister). Later, the ranch was broken up into smaller parcels and these were sold to several different people. Among them were Wallace Jones, Win Marshall and sons, Yamshita, Ether Swapp, Nephi and Glenn Lee, and others.
In 1918, Elmer Bowman moved to Overton, Nevada where he purchased a One-hundred-and-forty-acre farm from Dan H. Livingston. Elmer bought and shipped hogs to the Wilson Packing Company in Los Angeles, also cantaloupes and wheat. In 1921 Elmer bought the Gann Ranch in Logandale, Nevada.
Dave Conger worked for Bill Gann. On January 1, 1910 when the flood struck, Dave came to Capalapa to help. There he met his future wife. They were married May 10, 1910. They lived in Overton where he worked for Dan Livingston at the Capalapa Ranch. Leroy Tobler purchased and eighty-acre farm from Dan Livingston in Capalapa About 1932, Mr. Ether bought a part of the Capalapa Ranch, which was managed by Dan Livingston. Ther began working for Livingston, taking care of the herd of cattle that was shipped down from Utah to be trail herded to Gold Butte area and also between the valley and Las Vegas. It was a big ranch at Capalapa, and it was being sub divided.
Delta Utah Ranch
Livingston_Ranch_Delta_Ut.png Daniel H. Livingston purchased from the Delta Investment Co., a ranch in the area known as Hinkley, near Delta, Utah in 1916. He sent John Ovard (with his sister Grace Livingston Ovard) to the Delta ranch to operate and manage the operations.
The ranch was fairly large ranch, well cultivated and planted, and obviously successful. Grandfather Dan Organized the Livingston Land and Cattle Co., deeding the Delta Ranch to that organization in 1917. The ranch, according to D. Eugene Livingston, his son, was one of the first ranches in the West to receive and grow U.S. Patented Alfalfa Seed.
Grandfather Dan visited the operation frequently as he had his other ranch operations. In 1920-1921 a severe recession befell the nation. Most severe of all, however, was the protracted fall of farm prices—an event that would continue to a greater or lesser extent throughout the decade; when the 1920s later began to roar, few farmers joined in the prosperity (American Public University). During that decade, 454,866 owner-manager farms disappeared, and led to the closure of 5,400 rural banks (Blackwell Reference Online).
The Livingston Land & Cattle Co. was sold to the McCornick Bank of Salt Lake City, which bank was absorbed by Walker Brothers Bank of Salt Lake City…..David Starr Jorgensen(Information gleaned from the Millard County Recorder’s office, Fillmore, Utah)
The Moapa-Hidden Valley Ranch
Sometime in the 1930's, Grandfather purchased ranch property of his own in what is called the Hidden Valley in the Moapa, Nevada area. The Muddy River ran through the property, furnishing irrigation water for crops. My wife, Janis, visited the ranch one or more times during her teen years. She related to me her harrowing experience of being caught in a river eddy which nearly pulled her under the water. One of her brothers jumped in the river, grasping her hand and pulling her out of the eddy.
I am amazed at the energy Grandfather Dan must have had. He obviously worked extremely hard at whatever venture he engaged in. I do not have information as to the crops or stock he raised and harvested, but the ranch must have been well cultivated. The ranch was a large ranch and was sold in the early 1940's.
The Hidden Valley Ranch is now the Moapa Valley Dairy on Hidden Valley Road. The company has annual revenue of $10 to $20 million and employs a staff of approximately 20-49 persons.
Obituary of Daniel Harrocks Livingston
S.L. Executive Dies at 79 After Stroke
Daniel H Livingston, 79, 271 9th Ave., prominent Utah mining executive, rancher and life insurance underwriter, died Friday in a Salt Lake hospital after a stroke. He pioneered in the Southern Utah coal mining area and was a representative of New York Life Insurance Co. for about 20 years.
Mr. Livingston owned several cattle ranches in Utah and Nevada and contributed to raising the standard of local livestock by importing top grade cattle from abroad. He lived for many years in Moapa, Nevada, where he had a ranch.
Born April 12, 1875 in Salt Lake City, he was a son of Charles and Ellen Harrocks Livingston. He married Annie Armstrong on Oct. 27, 1899 in the Salt Lake Temple, Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. She died in July 1954. He was a member of the Browser's Club.
Survivors include a son and two daughters, D. Eugene Livingston and Mrs. Blaine W. Wilson, Salt Lake City, and Mrs. Mark E. McDonald, Piedmont, California; six grandchildren and six great-grandchildren; a brother and two sisters; Clarence Livingston, Reno, Nev; Mrs. Frank Evans and Mrs. John A. Ovard, Salt Lake City.
Obituary of Annie Armstrong Livingston
S.L. Woman, LDS Worker, 79, Succumbs After Illness
Mrs. Annie Armstrong Livingston, 79, well-known Salt Lake City matron, died Tuesday at 1:45 p.m. at her residence, 271 9th Avenue, after an illness. Mrs. Livingston was formerly active in the Relief Society of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and was affiliated with the Author's Club, Classic Club and the Friendship Circle.
Born Jan. 10, 1875, in Salt Lake City, she was a daughter of Francis and Sarah Carruth Armstrong.
On Oct. 27, 1898, she was married to Daniel H. Livingston, in the Salt Lake LDS Temple.
Survivors include her husband; a son, D. Eugene Livingston, Salt Lake City attorney; two daughters, Mrs. Blaine W. (Belle) Wilson, Salt Lake City; Mrs. Mark E. (Frances) McDonald, Piedmont, Cal; a brother and five sisters; R. L. Armstrong; Mrs. I.R. Barton, Mrs. Irene A. Brainard, Salt Lake City; six grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.