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Show H,s-\or j o ..; J~"i.$€,.: - /l c, r 1 -.- 1 , .14fe.. JESSE CARTER LITTLE , SR. WAS THE YOUNGEST OF EIGHT CHILDREN BORN TO RELIEF WHITE AND THOMAS LITTLE, SEPT. 26, 1815, IN BELMOUT, WALDO COUNTY , MAINE. ON SEPT 29, 1840, AT THE AGE OF 25 HE MARRIED ELIZA GREENWOOD FRENCH OF PETERBORO, HILLSBORO, NEW HAMPSHIRE. HE WAS IN THE WAGON BUSINESS , A GOOD ORGANIZER, WITH THE ABILITY TO GET THINGS DONE. HE WAS OF MEDIUM HEIGHT, WITH DARK HAIR AND EYES, HAD A QUICK TEMPER, WAS STUBBORN, BUT NEVER USED PROFANITY. IT HAS BEEN SAID PETERBORO WAS ORIGINALLY PEOPLED BY DISSENTERS FROM AN OVER-BEARING STATE . RELIGION WAS RIPE FOR HARVESTING BY BRIGHAM YOUNG ' S MAGNETIC PRESENTATION OF THE MORMON RELIGION, THE CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST OF LATTER DAY SAINTS. IT WAS ESTIMATED THAT T.HE MOR."IONS GAINED FROM 130 TO 150 ADHERENTS, OF WHOM JESSE LITTLE WAS ONE. JESSE WAS BAPTIZED ON SUNDAY, APRIL 3, 1841, IN A RAPID STREAM NEAR THE PETERBORO MAIN STREET BRIDGE , RETURNING HOME IN FREEZING CLOTHING TO HIS ASTOUNDED WIFE. ON AUGUST 18 , 1841 THEIR FIRST CHILD , HELEN AMELIA WAS BORN. NOVE.11BER 6, 1842, ANNIE ELIZABETH) THEIR SECOND GIRL WAS BORN , AND ON AUGUST 12, 1844, MARY ELIZA , WAS BORN. SHE DIED IN 1845. APRIL 17, 1845, JESSE WAS ORDAINED A HIGH PRIEST IN THE CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST OF LATTER DAY SAINTS (MORMON) BY PARLEY P. PRATT. JANUARY 20 , 1846, HE BEGAN THE DUTIES OF PRESIDENT OF THE EASTERN STATES MISSION, TO REPLACE SAMUAL BRAMAN WHO HAD JUST TAKEN A BOATLOAD OF MEMBERS FROM NEW YORK TO CALIFORNIA AS IT WAS CONSIDERED EASIER AND LESS EXPENSIVE AT THE TIME TO GO BY WATER, INSTEAD OF ACROSS THE PLAINS TO REACH THE ROCKY MOUNTAINS . JESSE WAS TO TRAVEL AMONG THE EASTERN BRANCHES TO TAKE CHARGE, COUNCIL AND PRESIDE OVER, AND AS SOON AS POSSIBLE, TO OUTFIT ANOTHER CO~IPANY TO FO'L LOW ELDER BRAMAN, POSSIBLY BY FALL. HE PREPARED CIRCULARS WITH INSTRUCTIONS ON WHAT TO GATHER AND HOW TO PREPARE FOR THE JOURNEY . CONFERENCES WERE SET UP IN PETERBOROUGH, NEW HA.)1PSHJRE HAY 2nd At-,.1) 3rd, BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS MAY 6th , NEW YORK , NEW YORK, MAY 9th AND 10th, AND IN PHJLADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA ON MAY 13 A.'ID 14, 1846 , WHICH HE WOULD ATTEND. ON JANUARY 20 , 1846, WHILE THE MORMON HIGH COUNCIL AT NAUVOO WAS CONSIDERING ABANDONMENT AND JOURNEYING TO THE ROCKY MOUNTAINS , THE SUBJECT OF SENDING AN ADVANCE COMPANY WAS DISCUSSED. THERE HAD BEEN TALK OF THE GOVERNMENT BUILDING BLOCK HOUSES AND FORTS ALONG THE ROAD TO OREGON AND THE MATTER WAS BEFORE CON-GRESS AT THE TIME. IT WAS DECIDED THAT IF THE PROPOSITION BECAME LA\~, THE MORMONS MIGHT GET THE CONTRACT, AS THEY COULD DO IT CHEAPER DUE TO THEIR PECULIAR ClRCUHSTANCES. • IN TR'E LETTER OF JANUARY 20, 1846 TO JESSE, PRESIDENT BRIGHAM YOUNG SAID, "IF OUR GOVERNMENT SHALL OFFER ANY FACILITIES FOR EMIGRATING TO THE WESTERN COAST , EMBRACE THOSE FACILITIES, IF POSSIBLE; AS A WISE AND FAITHFUL MAN, TAKE EVERY HONORABLE ADVANTAGE OF THE TIME YOU CAN. LET VIRTUE, INTEGRITY AND TRUTH BE YOUR MOTTO." ACTING ON THIS ADVICE AND BEFORE LEAVING HIS HOME IN PETERBORO, NEW HAMPSHIRE FOR THE SCHEDULED CONFERENCES AND WASHINGTON HE OBTAINED A LETTER OF INTRO-DUCTION FROM JOHN H. SEELE, GOVERNOR OF NEW HA.l1PSHIRE TO BEORGE BONCROFT, SECRETARY OF NAVY . WHILE JESSE WAS ADDRESSING THE CONFERENCE IN PHILADELPHIA ON MAY 13, COL. THOMAS L. KANE WAS ATTRACTED BY THE VOICE EARNESTLY ADDRESSING THE CONGREGATION. HE WENT IN AND LISTENED . AT THE END OF THE MEETING HE INTRODUCED HIMSELF TO THE SPEAKER AND INVITED JESSE TO HIS HOME FOR AN INTERVIEW. A VERY AGREEABLE AND LENGTHY FRIENDSHIP FOLLOWED. THEY MET AGAIN ON THE 15th AND THE 17th, AND ON MAY 17 COL . KA.NE GAVE HIM A LETTER OF INTRODUCTION TO TJ-lE VICE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES , GEORGE M. DALLAS . . JESSE LEFT FOR WASHINGTON 0~ MAY 21st AND ARRIVED ON THE 22nd. HE CALLED AT THE WHITE HOUSE AND OBTAINED AN INTRODUCTION TO PRESIDENT JAMES K. POLK, BUT APPARENTLY NO BUSlljESS WAS TRANSACTED AS OTHERS WERE THERE ALSO . ON JUNE 1, FEELING ' THAT HE COULD WAIT NO LONGER, HE WROTE A LONG LETTER TO THE CHIEF EXECUTIVE IN WHICH HE MADE A MOST ELOQUENT APPEAL FOR ASSISTANCE FOR THE PERSECUTED AND SCATTERED MORMON PEOPLE . HE PLEDGED THEIR LOYALTY TO THE GOVERN-MENT AND MADE IT KNOWN THAT THEY DID NOT WISH TO LIVE IN A FOREIGN LAND (MEXICO) , IF I T COULD BE AVOIDED DUE TO TEE FACT WAR HAD JUST BROKEN OUT BETWEEN THE UNITED STATE AND MEXICO. ELDER LITTLE WAS A VERY SINCERE MAN AND MADE AN IMPRESSION ON PRESIDENT POLK' . ON JUNE 2 , COLONEL KEARNY WAS AUTHORIZED TO RECEIVE INTO SERVICE AS VOLUNTEERS A FEW HUNDRED OF THE MORMONS, WITH A VIEW TO CONCILIATE THEM , ATTACH THEM TO OUR COUNTRY AND PREVENT THEM FROM TAKING PART AGAINST THE UNITED STATES . ONE CAN SEE FROM THE ABOVE THAT PRESIDENT POLK WAS STILL SKEPTICAL OF THEIR LOYALTY. BUT EVEN THOUGH THEY WERE BEING DRIVEN FROM THE CONFINES OF THEIR OWN COUNTRY INTO THE WESTERN DESERT, THEY WERE ALWAYS LOYAL TO THE CONSTITUTION o:· THEIR NATIVE LAND . lbb 3 JUNE 1, 1846 , THE PRESIDENT MET WITH JESSE. THE CONVERSATION CENTERED UPON THE SUBJECT OF ENLISTING 500 OR MORE OF THE MORMON PEOPLE . PRESIDENT POLK STILL LET IT BE KNOWN THAT HE WAS SKEPTICAL OF THEIR LOYALTY AND DID NOT GIVE A DEFINITE ANSWER, OR INFORM JESSE OF THE KEARNEY EXPEDITION , WHICH HE RiJARDED AS A MILITARY SECRET . COL. KANE MET AGAIN WITH THE PRESIDENT ON JUNE 8 , AND AT 2 P.M. THE PRESIDENT TOLD JESSE HE HAD INSTRUCTED THE SECRETARY OF WAR TO MAKE OUT THE PAPERS . • JESSE LEFT WASHINGTON ON THE 9th . HE AND COL. KANE !.EFT PHIL!)ELPHIA ON JUNE 12, 1846 FOR COUNCIL BLUFFS, IOWA, WHERE THE CAMP WAS NOW ARRIVING . THE ORDERS COL . KANE CARRIED WERE VERY DIFFERENT FROM THAT HOPED FOR BY THE AUTHORITIES OF THE CHURCH , AS THEY WERE LOOKING FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO LABOR ALONG THE ROAD TO OREGON . NEVERTHELESS , THEY HAD ASKED FOR AID AND NOW THEY WERE DETERMINED TO CARRY THROUGH THE PROPOSITION OF THE GOVERNMENT. AFTER ASSITING IN ORGA..~IZING THE BATTALION AND ACCOMPANYING THE ENLISTED MEN AS FAR AS FORT LEAVENWORTH, KANSAS , JESSE RETURNED TO HIS DUTIES AS MISSION PRESIDENT AND HI S FAMILY IN THE EAST . HE RECEIVED A LETTER DATED NOVEMBER 15, 1846 FROM BRIGHAM YOUNG ASKING HIM TO APPOINT FAITHFUL AND TRUSTWORTHY MEN TO PRESIDE OVER THE EASTERN BRANCHES AND GET READY TO LEAVE WITH THE FIRST COMPANY FROM WINTER QUARTERS FOR THE WEST . LEAVING A WIFE AND TWO CHILDREN , HE LEFT APRIL 1847 FOR WINTER QUARTERS AND ARRIVED ABOUT THREE DAYS AFTER THE FIRST COMPANY HAD STARTED. HE OVERTOOK THEM ON APRIL 19 , 1847 AT A POINT ABOUT 80 MILES WEST OF WINTER QUARTERS . SPECIAL CARE WAS TAKEN TO CHOOSE MEN FOR THEIR ABILITY IN ALL TRADES , NECESSARY FOR THE TRIP ACROSS THE PLAINS AND TO START LIFE IN THE NEW VALLEY. THF ~E WERE FOURTEEN COMPANIES ORGAN~ZED INTO TENS WITH A CAPTAIN OVER EACH, ALSO THERE WERE CAPTAINS OF FIFTYS AND HUNDREDS . THERE WAS ALSO A MILITARY ORGANIZATION FORMED WITH THE VARIOUS RANKS OF WHICH JESSE WAS ADJUTANT. MOSTLY THEY LIVED UNDER CAREFUL DISCIPLINE AND GOOD ORDER . JESSE WAS ONE OF THE FIRST NINE MEN TO ENTER THE SALT LAKE VALLEY, A DAY AHEAD OF THE MAIN PARTY. EARLY IN AUGUST HE EXPLORED OGDEN, BEAR RIVER, CACHE VALLEY AND UTAH VALLEY LOOKING FOR GOOD PLACES TO SETTLE. HE STAYED IN UTAH ONE MONTH . EARLY IN NOVEMBER HE RETURNED BACK HOME TO HIS FAMILY AND DUTIES AS MISSION PRESIDENT. 167 • • HIS FIRST SON, CHARLES WALLACE WAS BORN NOVEMBER 14, 1847, HIS SECOND SO N, EDWARD KENDALL WAS BORN AUGUST 9, 1850. IN MAY OF 1851 HE AGAIN BEGAN THE JOURNEY TO SALT LAKE CITY, THIS TIME WITH HIS WIFE A.ND FOUR CHILDREN. ALL THE EARLY PIONEER PEOPLE ENDURED MANY HA!RDSHIPS AND MUCH SUFFERING AND 01l MAY 12, 1851, HELEN AMELIA THE OLDEST CHILD DIED AT 9 YEARS, 8 l!ONTHS A.ND 24 DAYS WITH WHAT THEY CALLED INFLAMATION OF THE LUNG IN ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI. THEN ON MAY 16, 1851 LITTLE EDWARD KENDALL DIED OF INFLAMATION OF THE BRAIN IN ST. CHARLES, MISSOURI. THEY WERE BURIED IN BEL LEFONTAIN CEMETERY IN ST. LOUIS , MISSOURI . ON JULY 4 , 1851 SARAH LOUISE WAS BORN AT KENDALLSVILLE, IOWA. WAS BURIED ON THE PLAINS JUST OFF THE TRAIL. SHE DIED A.ND THE FAMILIES ARRIVED IN UTAH IN 1852 . DILIGENT Al'{D lLl\RD WORKING THEY BECAME THE OWNERS OF THE FIRST HOTEL AT WARM SPRINGS, LATER CALLED BECKS HOT SPRINGS ON THE NORTH SIDE OF SALT LAKE CITY. JESSE WAS THE FIRST SEXTON , THE FIRST CITY MARSHALL, THE FI RST FIRE CHIEF. HE BUILT THE FIRST FIRE STATION. IN 1853 HE BUILT THE FIRST FIRE ENGINE WEST OF THE MISSOURI RIVER. FOR THIRTY YEARS IT WAS USED AND FINALLY ENDED UP IN A MUSEUM. HE WAS THE FIRST INTERNAL REVENUE COLLECTOR UNDER PRESIDENT LINCOLN. HE BUILT AND OWNED THE FIRST WAGON AND CARRIAGE SHOP AND BUILT A LARGE OMNIBUS IN WHICH THE GENERAL AUTHORITIES TRAVELED . HE WAS SHOP FOREMAN AT THE FIRST CHURCH-OWNED WAGON AND CARRIAGE · SHOP IN 1869 . HE WAS A MEMBER OF THE LEGISLATURE WHEN IT WAS IN FILLMORE. HE BUILT HOUSEHOLD FURNITURE FOR SALE AT HIS HOME. TO BISHOP EDWARD HUNTER FROM 1856 TO 1874 . HE WAS SECOND COUNSELOR AT THE WELDING OF THE RAILS OF THE UNION PACIFI C AND THE SOUTHERN UNION PACIFIC HE REPRESENTED THE MORMON AUTHORITIES. HE HELPED WITH BUILDING THE RAILROAD AND SOME CITY ROADS. IT HAS BEEN STATED JESSE WAS BRIGHAM YOUNG ' S RlGHT HAND MAN . AFTER REACHING SALT LAKE CITY THEY HAD FOUR MORE CHILDREN , ELEVEN IN ALL. ELIZA GREENWOOD FRENCH, HIS FIRST WIFE , WAS OF MEDIUM HEIGHT AND CO~ORING, A HARD WORKER AND A ~INDLY WOMAN . " • JANUARY 29, 1855 JESSE MARRIED EMILY HOAGLAND, WHO WAS BORN SEPT. 20, 1837 AT ROYAL OAK, MICHIGAN, A DAUGHTER OF ABRAHAM HOAGLAND AND MARGARET QUICK. IT HAS BEEN SAID SHE WAS A VERY DEMANDING WOMAN . THEY RAD ELEVEN CHILDREN. SHE LIVED MOST OF HER LIFE IN SALT LAKE CITY, WHERE SHE DIED. JANUARY 29, 1855 HE MARRIED MARY MARIA HOLBROOK, WHO WAS BORN MAY 17, 1836 AT LIBERTY, CLAY COUNTY, MISSOURI, A DAUGHTER OF CHANDLER HOLBROOK AND EUNICE DUNNING. SHE WAS OF MEDIUM COLORING AND HEIGHT , A VERY HARD WORKER AND VERY KIND. THEY HAD FIVE CHILDREN. SHE ALONG WITH HER CHILDREN LIVED ON A FARM IN LITTLETON, MORGAN COUNTY, UTAH. SHE DIED IN MORGAN ON MARCH 23, 1906. IN 1874 JESSE RESIGNED FROM HIS POSITIONS IN SALT LAKE CITY AND RETIRED TO HIS FARM IN LITTLETON. DECEMBER 26, 1893 HE DIED AT THE HOME OF A SON IN SALT LAKE CITY ON -4- 5 }(;fl t |