SAMUEL LITTLE & FAMILY; From Fleming County, Kentucky

In 1821, according to Elijah Iles, Samuel Little is listed with John Lindsay as already settled in Springfield Township. Springfield's Founding Also, Elijah Iles: EARLY SKETCHES of ELIJAH ILES

Samuel Little owned property in sec 5-T15N-R5W, Sangamon co, IL. It is just west of the tract John Lindsay owned in sec 4. Lindsay & Lanterman Lands of Sangamon County, IL

There were Littles found in Spring Hill Township of Westmoreland co, PA and listed as "early settlers" of that county. (From James Veach's The Monongahela of Old or Historical Sketches of Southwestern Pennsylvania to the Year 1800 (Pittsburgh, 1910 edition) SOME PENNSYLVANIANS IN 1772

The 1786 Westmoreland County, PA tax list finds Samuel Little in Rostraver Township along with the Peter Lanterman and the Applegates.

LITTLE, SAMUEL, born in 1776, in Virginia. He was married in the year 1797, in Fleming county, Ky., to Mary Newcomb. They had nine children in Kentucky, and moved to St. Clair county, Illinois, where two of their children died. Mr. Little moved with his family to what became Sangamon county, arriving in 1819 or 1820, and settled two and one-half miles southwest of the present State House. Six of their children married and raised families, and all except one has died, and their children have moved away from the county. The only remaining one--

SAMUEL N., born March 1, 1814, in Fleming county, Ky., married in Sangamon county, Jan. 29, 1843, to Eliza M. Morgan. They have seven children--WILLIAM H., born March 16, 1845, near Springfield, married, Oct. 31, 1872, to Delia Pirkins. Wm. H. Little was killed Aug. 16, 1873, by an accident on the Chicago & Alton railroad, at Sag Bridge, near Chicago, and interred in Oak Ridge Cemetery. His widow resides with her father, R. Pirkins. Sec his name. GERSHOM J., born Feb. 19, 1847, near Springfield, married, Jan. 2, 1867, to Nellie Crafton. She died Jan. 14, 1868. G. J. Little was married, Oct. 27, 1874, to Maggie E. Conner, who was born June 22, 1851, in Springfield. G. J. Little is of the firm of S. N. Little & Sons, and resides in Springfield. SANFORD H., born June 21, 1849, lives in Springfield, and is of the firm of S. N. Little & Sons. HARRIET C., born Dec. 12, 1853, near Springfield, married Feb. 14, 1867, to John W. Crafton. They had one child, WILLIAM H., who died in his third year. Mr. and Mrs. Crafton reside in Springfield. MARYE., born May 10, 1851, died Oct. 30, 1855. MINERVA C., died Aug. 1, 1857. FANNIE Z., born Jan. 8, 1869, resides with her parents. Samuel N. Little owns and resides on the farm where his father settled in 1819, and received the title from the United States government soon after it came into market, in 1823. He is also engaged in the livery business, in Springfield, with his sons, Gershom J. and Sanford H., under the firm name of S. N. Little & Sons.

Of his parents--Mrs. Mary Little died in July, 1823, and Samuel Little died Jan. 1, 1847, both near Springfield.

SAMUEL N. LITTLE, senior partner in Little & Sons' livery, corner Fourth and Adams streets, residence, corner Adams and Second streets, was born in Flemming county, Kentucky, in February, 1811; was brought by his parents to St. Clair county, Illinois, in the spring of 1818. In the spring of the year 1819, his father came to Sangamon county, and locating at Little's Point, two and a half miles southwest of the present site of Springfield, raised a crop, and in 1820 brought his family and settled there. This was the home of Samuel Little, until the autumn of 1881, when the last ninety-six acres was sold for $16,000, and the family moved into the city. In January, 1843, Mr. Little married Eliza M. Morgan, who was also a native of Flemming county Kentucky, but brought up from infancy in Sangamon county, Illinois. Two children of each sex comprise their family. Both the sons are engaged in the livery business, Gershom, J., in company with his father, on the corner of Adams and Fourth streets, where the senior Little established the business in the fall of 1851; and Sanford, H., on south Sixth street, opposite the Leland hotel. The Fourth street stable is a large two-story brick, eighty by one hundred and fifty-seven feet in size, and admirably constructed and arranged for the purpose, furnished with blacksmith shop, wash-room and other conveniences, making it one of the most complete stables in Illinois. Their stock consists of eight coaches, three barouches, sixteen buggies, three omnibuses, two baggage wagons, two mail wagons and fifty horses. S. H. Little is sole proprietor of the other stable, which comprises four coaches, twelve buggies and twenty-one horses.

Gershom J. Little, was born in Sangamon county, Illinois, February 19, 1847. He read medicine and graduated from Rush medical College, Chicago, in 1868; but, becoming interested in the livery business, did not engage in the medical practice. He married Maggie Connor, of Springfield, in 1875. Her father, Ed. L. Connor, was, for many years, connected with the Springfield Illinois State Register.

S. N. LITTLE & SONS are carrying on an extensive livery business in Springfield, said business having been established here many years ago by Samuel N. Little, who was formerly a well known citizen of this city and one of the pioneers of the county.

The Littles came from Fleming County, Ky., to St. Clair County in this State in 1819. The same year Samuel, in company with four others, came to Sangamon County and raised a crop on the rich virgin soil. In the fall Samuel returned for his family, brought them here and located in what is now known as the Leland farm. He had only a "squatter's" right at first, but he entered the land as soon as it came into market. He improved it into a fine farm and rounded out here a life full of years. Nine children were born to him and his worthy wife, all now deceased.

Samuel N. was born in Fleming County, Ky., in the month of February, 1811, and was but a small child when his parents brought him to Illinois. He was the last survivor of the family, dying June 19, 1885. He was reared in this county amid its pioneer scenes and lived to witness its wonderful development and the great change wrought by the hand of man within his remembrance. From 1852 till the time of his death he was engaged in the livery business which he carried on very profitably. He owned the old homestead that his father had improved from the wilderness till he disposed of it in 1881.

Mr. Little was married in early manhood to Eliza M. Morgan, January 29, 1843, being the date of their wedding. Mrs. Little's parents were Daniel and Mary S. (Woods) Morgan, who were also natives of Fleming County, Ky. Three of the six children born to our subject are now living: Gershom J.; Sandford H., who is in the livery business, and is unmarried; and Harriet C., wife of J. W. Crampton, proprietor of the Leland stable at Springfield. There is also an adopted daughter, Fannie Y., now the wife of B. H. Smith of this city. The deceased children are William H., who was born March 16, 1845, and was killed in a railroad collision at Lamont on the Chicago & Alton Rail Road August 16, 1873, while on his return from Chicago, where he had been to purchase goods; Mary E., who died in childhood; Minerva C. who died in infancy.

Gershom J. Little received the advantages of a very fine education in his youth. He turned his attention to the study of medicine and was graduated from Rush Medical College at Chicago. He pursued his profession for a while at Edinburg till circumstances over which he had no control compelled him to abandon his practice and necessitated his being at home, so that he entered the livery business in which his father was engaged and has carried it on ever since. As before remarked this is a long established business and is well conducted. The firm name still continues Little & Sons. Mr. Little has a fine well equipped stable and has the patronage of the best people in the city.

Mr. Little has been twice married. He first entered the matrimonial state with Nellie Crafton, January 2, 1867. Their wedded life was of brief duration as scarce a year had passed before the young wife died, her death occurring January 14, 1868. He was a second time married October 27, 1875. Miss Margaret Conner becoming his wife. They have had two children, one of whom died in infancy and the other, Georgia F., is a child of seven years.

The Littles have been staunch supporters of the loyal Republican party since its formation and Gershom still gives it his heartfelt allegiance, and is one of our most patriotic and law abiding citizens. His maternal grandfather, Daniel Morgan, was a loyal Republican. He fought under Gen. Jackson in the War of 1812, and subsequently was under Gen. Harrison. His last vote was cast in his eighty-second year and was in favor of Abraham Lincoln, of whom he was a great friend. He was so anxious to cast his ballot for that illustrious man that though old and feeble he was taken on a feather bed in a spring wagon with an umbrella held over him to the polls where for the last time he exercised his privileges as a free-born citizen. He died at the home of the Littles, September 6, 1866 and was a firm patriot to the last. Mrs. Morgan lived to the venerable age of ninety years and seven months, retaining all her faculties to the last and finally her long life was brought to a close January 20, 1878.