Biographical Sketch of Edwin B. Little, Johnson County, Missouri,
Chilhowee Township.

>From "History of Johnson County, Missouri," by Ewing Cockrell,
Historical Publishing Company, Topeka, Cleveland, 1918.
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Edwin B. Little, a prosperous and influential farmer and stockman of
Magnolia, Chilhowee township, is a member of a well known pioneer fam-
ily of Johnson county.  He was born in 1858 in Johnson county, Missouri
a son of John Howe and Margaret Frances Little.  John Howe Little was a
son of William and Jane Little, natives of Virginia.  The Littles were
considered very wealthy and prominent in that state, where the father
owned a large plantation in Jefferson township.  William Little was the
first sheriff of the county in Virginia, where he resided.  John H. 
Little came to Johnson county in 1858 and purchased nearly 600 acres of
land on the open prairie.  The early settlers advised him to buy land
along a creek, cautioning him of the difficulties he would encounter if
he chose to live elsewhere, warning him of the cold in winter.  After a
heroic struggle against conditions much more adverse than they had ever
been pictured, Mr. Little died in 1861, leaving the mother and her four
sons and three daughters to fight poverty alone and unaided. The family
endured all the privations and hardships of pioneer life and war, but
Mrs. Little was one of the bravest and noblest women who came to John-
son county and uncomplainingly bore burdens that would have broken the
spirit of many a stronger person.  She lived to see the happier days of
the coming of which she often prophesied.  She died in October, 1901.
To Mr. and Mrs. John H. Little were born: Charles C., who died October
9, 1917; Clara E., who died October 12, 1917; Mrs. Francis H. McDougal;
J. A.; G. W., on the home place; Mrs. Alice B. McDougal; and Edwin B.,
the subject of this review.  E. B. Little attended the Barthick school,
which was taught by John Coats and Maggie Humphrey.  Among his school
mates, whom he now recalls, were: Mr. and Mrs. S. M. Fisher, who now
reside in Johnson county; R. S. Fisher; J. C. Raker, J. F. Raker, M. H.
Snare; John Kirkpatrick; and Thomas Kirkpatrick, of Holden.  Mr. Little
knew personally many of the pioneer preachers and he has heard the 
following men manyb times in the early days: Reverends Levi Henshaw,
"Johnny" Denton, Prather, and J. H. Houx.  When E. B. Little was a lad,
there was much open prairie and unbroken sod land and he frequently
aided in surveying the county, carrying the chain for "Jap" Ferguson.
On his father's farm, the first work given him to do was breaking sod,
with the assistance of a yoke of oxen.  Until he was twenty-nine years
of age, Mr. Little remained at home with his mother on the home place.
She was obliged to sell 80 acres of the homestead, in order to pay 
debts, and about 1889, E. B. bought back this tract.  At the time of 
his marriage, in 1887, he owned 100 acres of land.  He devoted most of
his time and attention to stock raising, specializing in short horn
cattle and Poland China hogs, and in the course of time began to pros-
per, meeting with deserved success in practically every business ven-
ture.  Now, Mr. Little owns 540 acres of good farm land in Johnson 
county.  About 300 acres of the farm are in pasture and meadow.  The
Little farm is well improved and two drilled wells furnish an abundance
of water, which is pumped to both the residence and the barns by a gas-
oline engine.  Mr. Little harvested a splendid crop of oats this year
and he always has a nice crop of wheat.  In 1887, E. B. Little and Sue
C. Stone, daughter of "Uncle Salathiel" Stone, an honored pioneer of
Post Oak township and well to do farmer and stockman, were united in
marriage.  Mrs. Little's mother died in 1901 and her father in 1910. 
She has one brother deceased, R. I. Stone, and six brothers and sisters
living, namely: Mrs. Sarah M. James, Mrs. Mary J. Eppright,Mrs. Melissa
Sweeney, T. W. Stone, J. W. Stone, and G. W. Stone.  To Mr. and Mrs.
Little have been born three children: H. S., Magnolia, Missouri; E. E.,
Magnolia, Missouri; and Mary E., Magnolia, Missouri.  In 1887, Mr.
Little built an attractive and comfortable residence, a house of seven
rooms, which is the present home of the entire family.  He and his wife
are highly regarded and valuable members of the Presbyterian church and
they are numbered among the county's vest and most substantial citizens.

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