Livingston, Joshua H.

Feb. 17, 1847 - Apr. 18, 1932

Joshua H. Livingston (Feb. 17, 1847 - April 18, 1932) was born in Wallace, the son of Angus (Nov. 20,1810 - Jun. 25, 1891) and Sarah Jane Huestis. Angus, a ship builder, had been born on the Island of Mull, Scotland and Sarah in Wallace. On July 21, 1874, Joshua married Florence or Frances Augusta Purdy (1844 - Feb. 11, 1908), daughter of Rufus Purdy and Cecilia Black, in Wentworth. They had children Elma Sheridan (Feb. 25, 1876 - 1966), Mabel Louise (April 1883 - July9, 1901) and an infant who died in in 1879.

As a young man, Joshua was employed on the Inter-Colonial Railway, later being appointed stationmaster at Wentworth Station. He established a general store at Wentworth Station and entered into the farming. A merchant for over 50 years, he was also in the lumber business employing a large number of men. He served four terms on the Cumberland Municipal Council Board and was warden of the county in 1905.

Active in all social, religious and political affairs, he contested the Cumberland seat for the Provincial House of Assembly in 1909 as a liberal and won. One time, a grueling debate arose over the passing of a Bill to allow construction of a bridge over the Wallace River. Many of the members thought the span across the river was too great to allow for a bridge. Livingston, as outspoken as he was, stood up from his chair and said: “Mr. Speaker, the span across the harbour is really not all that large. Why, standing on one bank facing the other, I could piss halfway across.” He then pardoned himself by saying, “I’m truly sorry Mr. Speaker for the trouble caused by such a mistake. On my better days I could piss all the way across the river!” The Livingstone Bridge over Wallace Harbour was opened in September, 1912, and was Nova Scotia's longest bridge at that time. At its opening, there was a sign a the end of the bridge saying "Walk your horse."

On retiring from active politics, he accepted an appointment as Registrar of Deeds for Cumberland. He died of kidney failure and was survived by his second wife Anne Euphemia Forshner and his son Elma. His house is now the Wentworth Youth Hostel.

Excerpted from Survival: to Know Where I Have Been by Bruce Ryan and research done by Carol Hyslop. Some dates from NS Vital Stats and Census records.