COLBERT COUNTY, ALABAMA
BIOGRAPHIES

BENJAMIN F. LITTLE

BENJAMIN F. LITTLE, born November 30, 1842, near Russellville, Ala., is a son of Claiborne and Sarah (Bruton) Little.

The senior Mr. Little was born in Tennessee, and with his parents migrated to Russell’s Valley, Ala., in early times. He was a merchant, and died in 1849. He reared a family of eight children, viz.: William M., Edwin (deceased), Francis M., Rufus L., Coleman R. (deceased), John C. (deceased), Mollie (wife of Robert Martin), and the subject of this sketch. Coleman R. and John C. were members of the Tenth Mississippi Regiment during the late war, and both died while in the service. The Little family came originally from Ireland.

The subject of this sketch received a common-school education, and at the age of twelve years entered a store with his uncle, where he remained some time, and became a partner with J. O. Jones at Russellville and Florence. This partnership was continued with much success until the breaking out of the war. In 1861 Mr. Little enlisted in Company H, Fourth Alabama Regiment, as second sergeant, and participated in the first battle of Manassas, after which he was promoted to second lieutenant. In the winter of 1861-62 he was transferred to the Army of Mississippi, where he served in the forage department of Bragg’s army until that general started on his Kentucky raid. Prior to the battle of Munfordville he was as second lieutenant appointed to the command of a company of sharpshooters, and was engaged at Bryantsville and Perryville. On the retreat from Kentucky he was made aide-de-camp of Woods’ brigade. After reaching Dalton, Ga., he was appointed captain of the Fifth Alabama Cavalry, and was in that capacity at Moulton, Ala. He was then appointed recorder of military court for the northern district of Alabama, where he served until the close of the war. He was promoted to major, but did not receive his commission until after the surrender.

When peace once more reigned over the land, Mr. Little located at Tuscumbia, where he engaged in mercantile business. In 1871 he turned his attention to farming, which he continued until 1878, when he was engaged as general agent to procure the right of way for the Sheffield & Birmingham Railroad. Shortly after he was made paymaster of that road, which position he filled until the spring of 1886, when he engaged in the real estate business at Sheffield.

Captain Little was married August 2, 1864, to Miss Mattie Inman, only daughter of John D. Inman, Esq., an old and respected citizen of Tuscumbia. This union was blessed with three children: John C., Mattie R. (Mrs. F. W. Ross), and Sac. Mrs. Little died December 5, 1868, and the captain was married to Miss Emma Jones, daughter of Daniel Jones, of Holly Springs, Miss. She bore him five children, viz.: Lulie W., Edward, Laura F., Henry and Benjamin.

The family are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and the captain is a member of the Knights of Honor and the Knights and Ladies of Honor.

The subject of this sketch is a great-grandson of Maj. William Russell, who passed through Alabama with General Jackson on his way to fight the battle of New Orleans, crossing the Tennessee River at the now city of Sheffield. After participating in the battle of New Orleans as chief of Jackson’s staff, he returned and settled in Russell’s Valley, and for him the valley and the beautiful and thriving city of Russellsville [sic] are named. There he lived and died, honored and loved by all who knew him.

[SOURCE: Northern Alabama Historical and Biographical. Illustrated. Smith and De Land, Birmingham, Ala. 1888., p. 442-3.] Typed for inclusion here by Linda Ledlow.

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