James A. and Mary Jane Lyttle Little autobiographical sketches
Collection
Identifier: ACCN 2325
Scope and Contents
The accounts of James A. Little (1803-1892) and his wife, Mary Jane Lyttle, are fairly short. The sketch of James Little indicates his role in recording Utah's history: he was editor of the Millennial Star, he compiled many LDS Church biographies, including Brigham Young's. The account of Mary Jane Lyttle records her father's involvement in destroying a printing press in Nauvoo. The press was declared a nuisance by Joseph Smith, and John Little and Jessie P. Harmon were ordered to destroy it. Other childhood memories of Mary Jane Lyttle are included in her autobiography, such as witnessing healings, and giving Joseph Smith Jr. and Hyrum Smith a drink of water as they were leaving to stand trial at Carthage.
Dates
- 1803-1892
Creator
Conditions Governing Access
Twenty-four hour advanced notice encouraged. Materials must be used on-site. Access to parts of this collection may be restricted under provisions of state or federal law.
Conditions Governing Use
The library does not claim to control copyright for all materials in the collection. An individual depicted in a reproduction has privacy rights as outlined in Title 45 CFR, part 46 (Protection of Human Subjects). For further information, please review the J. Willard Marriott Library’s Use Agreement and Reproduction Request forms.
Biographical / Historical
Little is known about James A. and Mary Jane Little besides what is found in these biographies. James A. Little (1803-1892) was born on 14 September 1822, in New York, to James Little and Susannah Susan Young. His father died when James was six weeks old, and nothing is known of James' childhood until he was seven years old. When James was seven he went to live with a Mr. Burton until he was sixteen, when he was hired as a farm hand. While working as a farm hand, James attended country school during the winter months. He developed an aptitude for history and later taught school in 1843, when he was eight-teen years old. Later he enlisted as a soldier in the Mexican war, under General Taylor. James joined the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS) in 1848. In 1849 he moved to Utah where he met Mary Jane Lyttle. James and Mary Jane were married on 16 December 1849. In April 1854, James was called to serve a mission, for his Church, in England with LDS Apostle Franklin D. Richards. During the first part of his mission, James acted as associate editor of the Millennial Star, and during the latter part James was Counselor to Orson Pratt. After his mission, James was appointed as the LDS Church's emigration agent in St. Louis. Brigham Young later called James to help settle Dixie. In 1877 James was called to serve another mission, this time in the Eastern States, and again later to the Western States. Upon returning to Salt Lake, James began work on the Compendium. He is the author of From Kirtland to Salt Lake, as well as biographies of many prominent men in the Church, including Brigham Young. He died at the age of eight-six, in Kanab Kane, Utah, on 10 September 1908. James was survived by seventeen children.
Mary Jane Lyttle Little (1831-1921) was born on 6 August 1831, in Partridge, Ohio, to George and Sarah Whitner. When Mary Jane was five, her patents moved to Missouri with the LDS Church. There they lived until mobs drove them from their home. Eventually her family made their way to Nauvoo, and resided there until 1846. Mary Jane states that "the Prophet Joseph Smith was a great friend of my Fathers and always a welcome visitor at our Home," and claims her father lived at the Smith mansion house for five years, as a body guard. Mary Jane died 27 March 1921 in Ogden, Utah.
Mary Jane Lyttle Little (1831-1921) was born on 6 August 1831, in Partridge, Ohio, to George and Sarah Whitner. When Mary Jane was five, her patents moved to Missouri with the LDS Church. There they lived until mobs drove them from their home. Eventually her family made their way to Nauvoo, and resided there until 1846. Mary Jane states that "the Prophet Joseph Smith was a great friend of my Fathers and always a welcome visitor at our Home," and claims her father lived at the Smith mansion house for five years, as a body guard. Mary Jane died 27 March 1921 in Ogden, Utah.
Extent
0.25 Linear Feet
Language of Materials
English
Abstract
The James A. and Mary Jane Lyttle Little autobiographical sketches (1808-1892) are fairly short accounts of events and memories of their lives. The sketch of James Little indicates his role in recording Utah's history: he was editor of the Millennial Star. The account of Mary Jane Lyttle records her father's involvement in destroying a printing press in Nauvoo. The press was declared a nuisance by Joseph Smith, and John Little and Jessie P. Harmon were ordered to destroy it. Other childhood memories of Mary Jane Lyttle are included in her autobiography, such as witnessing healings, and giving Joseph Smith Jr. and Hyrum Smith a drink of water as they were leaving to stand trial at Carthage.
Processing Information
Processed by Nancy Coulam in 1983.
Creator
- Title
- Inventory of the James A. and Mary Jane Lyttle Little autobiographical sketches
- Author
- Finding aid created by Nancy Coulam.
- Date
- 1983 (last modified: 2020)
- Description rules
- Describing Archives: A Content Standard
- Language of description
- English
- Script of description
- Latin
- Language of description note
- Finding aid written in English.
Repository Details
Part of the J. Willard Marriott Library Special Collections Repository
Contact:
295 South 1500 East
Salt Lake City Utah 84112 United States
801-581-8863
special@library.utah.edu
295 South 1500 East
Salt Lake City Utah 84112 United States
801-581-8863
special@library.utah.edu