2001 of a Gathering of Littells the Previous December
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Littell Families of America A non-profit Family Association Littell Families of America evolved from several informal picnics during the 1960s and was formally incorporated as a non-profit family association in the State of Indiana in 1972. BOARD OF DIRECTORS Noble Kieth Littell, President and Historian, 1219 KatCaLani Avenue, Sebring, FL 33870 William Adams Littell, Jr, Treasurer, 490 Woodscreek Ct, Moriches, NY 11955 Linda Sue Littell, Secretary, 2170 Route 18, Aliquippa, PA 15001 Jack Littell Nowling, 136A Daleview Dr., Vincennes, IN 47591 Max Littell , P.O. Box 1881, Roswell, NM 88201 (Deceased) Joyce Littell Hamilton, 26642 S. New Town Dr.,Sun Lakes, AZ 85224 Harold William Littell, 183 Fairway Dr., Akron, OH 44333 Annual Dues - $7.50 Five-Year Certificate Membership - $35.00 Life Membership - $150.00 EDITORS NOTES With this issue of Littell’s Living Age another era in the existence of what is now our family magazine comes to a close. On May 11, 1844, encouraged by many of the prominent citizens of Boston, including Judge Story, Chancellor Kent, and John Quincy Adams, Eliakim Littell published the inaugural issue of “Littell’s Living Age.” As a weekly magazine devoted to the translation and reprinting of selected articles from the foreign press. Eliakim was the eldest son of Stephen (1772-1919) and Susan (Gardiner) Littell. ( See # 71, LFH&G, page He had two brothers, Dr. Squier Littell, a surgeon and author of Philadephia, and John Stockton Littell, an editor and author of Germantown, Pennsylvania. His sister, Susan Elton Littell, married James Urmston of Ohio. On December 2, 1828 Eliakim married Mary Frazee Smith, they were parents of Robert Smith Littell (1831-1896), Susan Gardiner Littell, Mary Frazee Littell, and Margaret Smith Littell. Two other children died young. The literary heritage was continued in subsequent generations. Robert Smith Littell’s son, Philip (1 868-1943) was an editor of the Milwaukee Sentinel and one of the original editors of the New Republic. Philip’s son, Robert (1896- 1963) was a senior editor of the Reader’s Digest, author and drama critic and columnist for the New York World. Robert’s son, Blame is an author and foreign correspondent for WNBc-TV while another son, Walter Damrosch Littell, a 1955 Harvard graduate with an English major is a newspaper writer and editor. John Stockton Littell’s great grandson, Walter Wilson Littell served as editor of Littell’s Living Age from the time it was rejuvenated in 1972 until the Spring of 1984. Founder Eliakim Littell commenced his literary career as a general publisher in Philadelphia. In 1819 he began to publish and edit the National Recorder, a weekly journal that subsequently became the Saturday Magazine before that finally merged into the Museum of Foreign Literature and Science. Eliakim also had a bookstore on Chestnut Street in Philadelphia for a number of years in the 1820’s and 1830’s. He continued as editor and publisher of Littell’s Living Age up until his death in 1870. Eliakim’s son, Robert Smith Littell, replaced his father as editor of the weekly magazine until he too died in 1896. The magazine came under the control of Frank Foxcroft who became both publisher and editor. He dropped the “Littell’s” from the title. In 1919 the Atlantic Monthly Company purchased The Living Age. Ellery Sedgwick, Henry Beston, and Dr. Victor S. Clark each served a period as editor between 1920 and 1928. The magazine vacillated between weekly, semi-monthly, and monthly until the monthly format was adopted in 1930. The Living Age fell into the hands of three men, Joseph Smyth, Irvine Williams, and Walker Matheson, purchased with money supplied by the Japanese government and used to disseminate Japanese propaganda. The last issue was published in August, 1941 and an indictment was returned in September 1942 accusing the three of sedition. When Littell Families of America was organized in 1972 and a family history magazine was commenced it was indeed logical that the name Littell’s Living Age be used and assigned as Section 2, Volume 1, Number 1, # 4,500 in the series. Walter Wilson Littell, a distant nephew of the founder was the first contemporary editor, he published the magazine through the Spring of 1984. Finding a replacement for the thorough, methodical, hard working Walter was a difficult task. I assumed the editor position as a temporary or acting editor and have published the magazine, with help, since that time. Harry Littell and I published the 1985 and 1986 issues; Edmund Munger Littell and I were responsible for the 1988 issue; and Alison Littell McHose lent her assistance to the issue for the year 2000. After this issue I am no longer an editor. I know the magazine will be in good hands with the new editor. CarolJo Forsythe “Jo” Henderson will assume the post as editor for the 2002 issue. She brings with her the benefit of several years experience in the field of genealogical and historical activities, including publications. She brings experience and an exhilarating personality. Let us all pitch in and give her the data you have in your files just wondering when you were going to get around to seeing it in print. Send your data contributions to: CarolJo Henderson Ten Allegheny Center Apartment 806 Pittsburgh, PA 1521 2-5225 (412) 322-2626 Jo Henderson accepts the symbolic key to the Littell’s Living Age Library in preparation for assuming the duties of Editor with the 2002 issue from outgoing editor Noble Littell REUNIONS There were several Reunions, picnics, and “get -togethers” - among the Littells during the past year. Southern Indiana, 13 August 2000 — submitted by Mrs. Narlon C. (Janetta) Littell of North Vernon, Indiana. 79th Annual Reunion. “The Littell’s friends and family met at the North Vernon City Park Shelter house # 1 on August 13, 2000 for the 79th annual reunion. “Genevieve Dallrymple sent word that she would not be able to attend this year. Also Hazel Garrett sent word that neither she nor the McCorckles could attend this year due to George’s illness. Phyllis Wood is unable to attend due to the illness of her brother, Paul Southerland. Louise Wilber is unable to attend due to the death of her sister-in-law in Cincinnati. Lottie McCorkle sent their regrets. Lottie remembers attending most of the Littell reunions. She writes, “ ... 79th Annual — I haven’t missed very many of them. Pop really looked forward to seeing Jennings County each year and folks he’d grown up with, cousins, brother, uncles and aunts, nephew, Charles Johnson. In the 20’s, the milking done, livestock fed, Mom had breakfast for us, plus fried chicken, cake, fruit salad, etc. ready, and we left in the Model T Ford at 6:00 A.M. Arrived south of Sardinia by 9:00. Pop and Melvin, my brother, stopped at the picnic ground and Mom took us girls to visit with Maude Hubbard just west of there. When we came to the picnic ground more people were there and Eef Littell was cooking the coffee on a bonfire in a 5 gallon lard can. Two swings were on the tree limbs for us kids, taking turns. The first reunion we attended was at Uncle Willie Littell’s home — I think 1922 or so. Drought in the ‘30s, we stayed home and as WWII was on us we may have missed some. George was in the service 1941, June 2, and back home 12-20-45. We married 5-30-41 just 3 days before he left. I went to Ft. Sill with him in June 1942, then to Camp Hood Texas, then back home February 1943, living with my folks till December 1945..." “Donnell Littell is working on the prototype of a recipe/memory book which he is compiling. Billie Dalrymple will continue to serve as our Activity Director. “There were no new births last year. Judy Smith, our friend from Madison, passed away. “A game was played, called Trivia Questions. Natalie Kellar got the most correct answers including the Bonus points regard the statues of horses, and received a jar of Spiced Nuts. After Trivia game, Littell-O was played, with prizes of homemade app buffer being won by Thelma Graham, Maxine Zeigler, and Jane Littell. Consolation prized of apple buffer were awarded to a present. “The oldest person present was Dukes McGovern, and the youngest, Beth Ann Southerland. Beth Ann received two story books. Maxine Zeigler traveled the farthest and received a navy blue tote bag embroidered with “Littell Reunion 8/13/2000 along with an outline of the United States, with a star over North Vernon. Thelma Graham traveled the least distance. “Attendees were Maxine Zeigler from Mission Viejo California. From Casa Grande, Arizona, Billie and Don Dalrymple. From Seymour, Indiana; Lester Jones and Charlotte Lovegrove. From Indianapolis, Indiana; Lester McGovern and Don Hubbard. From Crothersville, Indiana, Dale and Ruth Southerland and their children, Joshua and Beth Ann. From Vernon, Indiana; Tonja Klepper and Christian DelGatto. From North Vernon, Indiana; Jon Holley, Kenny and Char Southerland, Gail and Brett Ross, Thelma Graham, Donnell and Bette Littell, Natalie Keller, Maggie Keller, Sarah MahI, and Narlon and Janetta Littell.” Janetta also wrote, “I have been married to Narlon C. for 46 years, so that is my connection with the Littell’s. At the present time he is President of our reunion, and that makes me Secretary, as it has always been handled as husband and wife. " St. Petersburg, Florida — Wallace W. Littell wrote April 6, 2001 of a gathering of Littells the previous December. “We had a big family ‘HaIf-centurist Bash’ in December in Petersburg to celebrate the 50th birthdays of David Clair Littell, St.