Little (nee Klein)

Little is an English nickname given to the small man, or the younger of two men who bore the same given name, from Middle English littlel Old English lytel = little. Variations are Littell, Lyttle, Lytle, Littler. Among the Danish and Norwegians the name is Litle.

The Little’s were of French-German lineage, and the first one of the family to seek a home in the New Country, across the sea, was Ludwig (German for Lewis) Klein, who came from Switzerland of Germany (as it was then spoken of) before it became a Republic. Ludwig immigrated to these shores on the ship Samuel, Capt., Hugh Percy, landing at Philadelphia, August 30th, 1737 and settled in what is now Germany Township, Adams County, Pennsylvania.

The German name Klein means Little in English, so after adopting this country as their permanent home they also adopted the English name of Little.

Ludwig or Lewis (Klein) Little, the ancestor of the Little family in America and who landed at Philadelphia in 1737 brought his wife Mary Eva? with him and undoubtedly all three of their children, Peter, Frederick and Margaret.

He owned land at Petersburg (afterward Littlestown), later heired by his son Peter. On September 18, 1760, Peter Klein, a name later anglicized to Peter Little, secured a deed to a tract of Germany Township land. Five years later he was laying out town lots, the first of which he sold on July 15, 1765, thus establishing the founding date for his town Littlestown, which still bears his name.

Ludwig (or Lewis) died near Littlestown in 1786 and it seemed hard for him to get away from the German way, as his will was signed Klein, but was indexed as Little in the York County records. This confusion in names led to a blunder in Appleton’s Encyclopedia of American Biography, where Peter Klein’s son Peter Little was described as being born in Petersburg, Huntington County, PA, which is quite another place from Littlestown. The confusion was also carried out on his tombstone, making the name of the Founder of Littlestown, Peter Klein, but finally it all got straightened out all right and Little it is.

Peter (Klein) Little who founded Littlestown in 1765 was born 27 Jan 1724. He married Ursula Schreiver, now spelled Shriver, and died in the summer of 1775. He was buried in Christ Reformed cemetery, between Littlestown and Hanover. The inscription on his tombstone is in German with the German name Klein on the stone.

Scharf’s History of Western Maryland says that some members of this early Little family, settled at Freedom, Baltimore County (now Carroll) as early as 1765. That is probably why our ancestors chose shortly after to come from Pennsylvania and settle in the same community.

Henry Little was born August 27, 1799 in PA, and died October 6, 1867 in Fredericks County, MD. He married (1) Elizabeth Berry April 27, 1824 in Fredericks County, MD. She was born January 1799, and died February 9, 1839 in Fredericks County, MD. He married (2) Elizabeth Eline October 26, 1841 in Fredericks County, MD. She was born October 26, 1820 in Fredericks County, MD, and died May 21, 1870 in Fredericks County, MD.

Notes for HENRY LITTLE: Married Twice. He and his first wife had seven boys. He and his second wife had 12 boys and two girls. Great grandfather (William L.) was number 20 of the children. Great Uncle Leck was the last (#22) Presumably he was born in or near Emmitsburg, MD. Gotten from Great Uncle Guy Little.

Prodigy PA-MARR shows three Marriages applied for in Fredericks Co 5th election district, which is Emmitsburg. Henry Little to Elizabeth Eline 10 Oct. 1841 Henry Little to Rebecca Harner 01 Jun 1854 Henry Little to Elizabeth Berry 23 Apr 1824

1850 Census for Frederick Co show that as ANN MORRISON AGE 97 Born in Scotland lived with Henry Little, (Is she related possibly his mother or grand mother?) Also listed is Henry age 50 farmer $1000 income, Elizabeth age 30, James age 21 farmer, John age 19 farmer, H.Constantine age 14,Edwd V. age 7, Franklin age 5, Thomas age 3, & George age 3/12.

Listed in the JM Holcraft's Name In Stone, 1966 is Henry Little 27 Aug 1799-6 Oct 1867 buried St Anthony, old St Mary's Catholic Cemetery. St Mary's Church at the Cemetery was abandoned in 1900 and congregation became known as St Anthony's. Lies high on mountain behind the college and near a much-visited shrine and carillion.

Henry became sick and very weak he knew that he was dieing. On 12 July 1867 he wrote, signed, and sealed his last will and testament. He was of sound mind at the time of the writing. In it his will he states that his real estate was to be sold at public or private auction. He indicates that the money from the sale would be sufficient to cover any and all of his debts plus that of the expense of his funeral and burial. Also the remainder of said money earned from the sale, all his household and kitchen furniture with all the horses, cattle, sheep, hogs, farming utensils, grain and hay remaining at the time of his death should go to his dear wife. Samuel A. Dwen executed his will on 21 October 1867. I am of the opinion that Henry must have had quite a large farm. Information on the will was received from the Maryland State Archives on 20 November 1993. Have Photocopies of the will and of the application for marriage of Henry Little and Elizabeth Eline.

Children of Henry Little and Elizabeth Berry are:

Helen Cecily (b. February 19, 1825) m. George Saylor, July 23, 1847, Fredericksburg, MD

Charles Francis Benedict(b. March 21, 1827)

James E. (b. June 2, 1829, d. WFT Est. 1830-1919)

John Ignatius (b. July 26, 1831)

Edward Vinantus (b. December 15, 1833, d. April 1, 1838)

Henry Constantine (b. April 27, 183?, d. WFT Est. 1837-1926)

Rose Philamina (b. March 13, 1838, d. September 4, 1838)

Children of Henry Little and Elizabeth Eline are:

Edward Vincent (b. December 13, 1842)

Joseph Vinantus (b. December 13, 1842, d. February 16, 1844)

Franklin L. (b. January 12, 1845, Emmitsburg, Md; d. November 28, 1925, Loretto, Pa)

William C. (b. January 12, 1845, d. February 17, 1845)

Thomas (b. February 25, 1847, Mayland)

Pius (b. April 10, 1849, d. April 10, 1849)

Jerome (b. April 10, 1849, d. April 10, 1849)

George (b. March 9, 1850)

Elizabeth Ann (b. October 4, 1852, d. May 12, 1870)

Augustine (b. February 25, 1855)

Joseph V. (b. April 8, 1857)

William Lewis (b. September 8, 1859, Emmitsburg, MD Frederick County, d. March 30, 1937, ChestSprings,Pa)

Clement Elections (b. September 16, 1861, d. 1921, Clearfield Township, PA) m. Harriet M. Kaylor (b. 1867, d. 1948, Clearfield Township, PA)

Annie Mares (b. October 16, 1863)

John Ignatius married Sophia Genevieve Peddicord (dau. of Perry and Susanna (Hovis) Peddicord) (b. 25 Oct. 1854). Sophia is the sister of John Theodore Peddicord (see Peddicord info.) John and Sophia had the following children,

James Albert (b. 21 July 1855, bap. 15 Aug 1855, d.?)

Elizabeth Anina (b. 1 May 1857, bap. 7 June 1857, d.?)

Bernard (b. 7 Nov 1858, bap. 17 Jan 1860, d. 2 Dec 1930)

Henry Carroll (b. 12 Dec 1861, bap 5 Jan 1862, d.?)

Susan Virginia (b. 11 Apr 1864, bap 24 Apr 1864, d.?)

Henrietta Sarah (b. 3 Jan 1867, bap. 28, 1867, d.?)

Mary Ellen (b. 1 Mar 1870, bap. 15 May 1870, d.?)

Bernard married Sarah Louise Peddicord (b. 2 Mar 1861, d. 30 Jan 1926) She was the daughter of John Theodore and Sarah (Irons) Peddicord. Bernard and Sarah had the following children:

Clayanna (b. 1881, d. 1954) never married

Alverta (b. April 1884) m. Edward Kreitz

Edgar J. Little (b. Jan, 1887)

Mary (b. 1892, d. 1931)

Virginia (b. 1895, d. 1926)

Joseph Levert (b. Mar. 11, 1898, d. Feb. 9, 1969)

Charles (b. 1902, d. 1938)

Leonard (b. 1906, d. 1930) never married

Joseph Levert married Mary Marjorie Lingg (dau. of Felix Henry and Mary R. (Brawner) Lingg) Feb 28, 1922 at St. Anthony’s Shrine with Father George H. Tragesser officiating. Joseph and Mary had the following children,

Joseph Felix (b. Sept. 25, 1922, bap. Oct. 5 1922, d. Aug. 4, 1999) m. Margaret Boland

Mary Louise (b. Oct. 1, 1923, bap. Oct. 7, 1923, d. Mar. 9, 1924) died at 5 mos. of pneumonia)

Francis Levert (b. Sept. 26, 1924, bap. Oct. 1, 1924, d. Aug 7, 1989/cancer) m. Josephine Miller

Catherine Delores (b. Aug. 7, 1926, bap. Aug. 15, 1926, d. Aug. 18, 1973/heart attack) m. John Wood (b. Mar 11, 1929, d. Nov. 27, 1999)

John Kenneth (b. Aug. 14, 1928, bap. Aug. 18, 1928, d. May 11, 1946/car accident)

James Karl (Carroll) (b. June 11, 1930, bap. June 22, 1930) m. Annie Topper

Leo Paul (b. Feb. 8, 1933, bap. Feb 19, 1933) m. Mary Hewitt

Donald William (b. 1934, d. Sept. 7, 1977/cancer) m. Joan Hobbs

John Bernard (b. Aug. 16, 1935, bap. Aug. 30, 1935) m. Shirley Wilhide (b. Aug. 20, 1939, d. Feb. 29, 2000)

Mary Patricia (b. Jan. 16, 1938, bap. Jan. 30, 1938) m. John Carson (b. Aug. 12, 1939, d. July 23, 2000)

Philip Gerard (b. Oct. 11, 1939, bap. Oct. 22, 1939) m. Anne Althoff

Thomas Anthony (b. May 31, 1941, bap. June 8, 1941) m. Dorothy Moser

Betty Louise (b. Oct. 27, 1944, bap. Nov. 12, 1944) m. Dan Boose

Alverta married Edward Kreitz.

Lewis Edward Kreitz (son of Edward and Alverta) m. Luella Mae McNair (dau. of Scott and Anna Mae (Stonesifer) McNair. Children:

David Edward (b. Apr 4, 1938)

Rebecca Ann (b. May 12, 1940)

James Andrew (b. June 14, 1942)

Mary Edna (b. Nov. 19, 1943)

Lewis Edward, Jr. (b. Oct. 8, 1944)

Michael (b. July 28, 1947)