Source: Morton Montgomery, p. 318
Surnames: LEVENGOOD/LIVENGOOD/LIVINGOOD, STITZER, ECK, SPOHN, SHIVE, HERZOG, LIEBENGUTH, SHUSTER
Levengood (Livengood, Livingood). The first reunion of the Levengood family was held in the fall of 1906 to celebrate the ninety-third birthday anniversary of its oldest living member, Adam Levengood, and the gathering took place at the home of his son, Jacob S. Levengood, in Oley, near Friedensburg. The second and third meetings were held at the same place, the third on September 7, 1908, and the fourth is to be held in Friedensburg Park on Labor Day, 1909. The venerable man in whose honor the first meeting was held was present at the second and third meetings also, well preserved and hearty. The organization was decided upon at the first gathering. In 1908 the following officers were elected:
President, David D. Livingood, Pottstown, Pa.
Vice-Presidents, William Livingood, Pottstown, Pa.; John Stitzer, Reading, Pa.; Casper Livingood, Birdsboro, Pa.; James Eck, Reading, Pa.; Abner Livingood, Millersville, Pa.; Jacob Livingood, Elverson, Pa.
Secretary, Howard M. Livengood, Birdsboro, Pa.
Assistant Secretary, Oscar Levengood, Gilbertsville, Pa.
Treasurer, Jacob S. Levengood, Oley, Pa.
Historian, Howard M. Livengood, Birdsboro, Pa.
Assistant Historians, John Stitzer, Reading, Pa.; Irwin Livingood, Pottstown, Pa.
Executive Committee, Adam Livingood, Birdsboro, Pa.; Jacob S. Levengood, Oley, Pa.; Elsworth Spohn, Oley, Pa.; Monroe Shive, Reading, Pa.
After the business meeting the assembly, which included about two hundred and fifty representatives of the family, was addressed by ex-Representative Jacob R. Herzog and by Mr. Howard M. Livengood.
The Levengood family traces its ancestry back to Ulrich and Susanna Liebenguth, who came to America from the Palatinate about 1733, in the ship "Charming Betsy," landing at Philadelphia, Oct. 12, 1733. At that time he was forty-five years old, his wife thirty-six. He was a man of sterling qualities, and his descendants belong to the best of the sturdy Pennsylvania German element in their section. Many of those who bear the name have made a reputation in the learned professions, and they are generally known for the substantial qualities that distinguished the early representatives of the family.
Ulrich and Susanna Liebenguth brought five children with them: Peter, aged sixteen; Adam, aged thirteen; Jacob, aged ten; Maria, aged eight; and Anna, aged five. From Philadelphia the family proceeded to New Hanover township, where they settled.
Jacob, third son of the emigrant ancestors, was born in Alsace, Germany, and was the progenitor of the Levengood family of which this article treats. He died April 1, 1804, and his remains are interred in the cemetery adjoining the Swamp Reformed Church. He had one son, Matthias, who married Catharine Shuster, and they had five children.
Adam Levengood is the father of four sons: Jacob S., at whose home the first three reunions were held; James, of Elverson, Pa.; Solomon, of Joanna Heights, Pa.; and Adam, of Friedensburg.
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