Michael D. Livingston is a well-known citizen and successful hardware merchant of Cambridge, Iowa, and although his birth occurred in Belmont County, Ohio, February 27, 1823, he has been a resident of Iowa since 1851, first residing one year in Henry County, then two and one-half years in Linn County, since which time he has been a resident of Story County. At the age of twenty-two years he commenced the battle of life for himself without any capital, excepting a strong body, willing hands and an industrious and economical disposition, and having been reared to the occupation of farming and stock-raising he made this his chief calling until recently, when he embarked in the mercantile business. On first coming to Story County the prospects for the future prosperity of the settlers was not at all inviting, but he has seen it reclaimed from a marshy and uninviting region into fertile, well-tilled and productive farms. Only two small buildings constituted the now flourishing town of Cambridge, and the residences throughout the township were few and far between. He has seen with pride a rapid development, and has, perhaps, done as much as any man in the county to bring about this desirable result. At that time merchandise had to be hauled from Davenport or Keokuk by ox-teams, but now excellent mercantile establishments of all kinds are in every town, and the goods are sold at prices within the reach of all. Mr. Livingston's establishment comprises a large and select stock of hardware of all kinds, and besides this he owns some excellent residence property in the town. He is now very comfortably fixed financially, and he and family are surrounded by all that makes life enjoyable—true and agreeable friends and ample means. On August 27, 1846, he was married to Miss Elizabeth Wilson, a native of Ohio, and to them a family of eleven children have been born: Mary E. (is the wife of Richard Newcombe, a farmer of Sac County, Iowa), John W. (is married, and is a dealer in lumber in Kansas City, Mo.), Sarah (is the wife of Dr. Grafton, a physician and surgeon of Cambridge), Frank M. (is associated in business with his father in Cambridge, the firm being known as Livingston & Son. He was married to Miss Ringman, a native of Iowa, and is proving himself to be a wide-awake and enterprising young business man. He received his education in a business college of Des Moines, but also took a course of study in the graded schools of Cambridge). The next child in order of birth was William C. (who married a Miss Ball, a native of Illinois, and is now engaged in farming in Union County, Iowa), Amanda (is a saleslady in a dry-goods store in Nevada), Mattie (is a teacher in the public schools of Phelps County, Neb., having received her education in the graded schools of Nevada, Iowa), Alice (is the wife of Henry Lesky, a farmer of Phelps County, Neb.), Eugene (is married to Miss E. Green, and is a farmer of Story County), Grafton (is also a farmer of this county) and Blanche (who resides with her parents. She is well educated, and is fitting herself for the calling of a music teacher). Mr. Livingston has always identified himself with the Democrat party, being an admirer of Jeffersonian principles, but he is not an ultra partisan. He has always been an officer of the school board in his home district, is a stanch supporter of education, and believes that free schools are the salvation of the country. He is a member of the A. F. & A. M., Lodge No. 94, of Nevada, and was demitted to Cambridge Masonic Lodge No. 444. His wife belongs to the Methodist Episcopal Church, and they are both liberal in their contributions to enterprises which are for the upbuilding of the community in which they reside. Mr. Living-