Progressive Men of Minnesota

Minneapolis Journal 1897

SAMUEL T. LITTLETON is an attorney-at-law of Kasson, Dodge County, Minnesota. His father, Joseph D. Littleton, was a farmer in moderate circumstances, who had been a lawyer during the early part of his life, and who was in the Union army during the war. He was a native of Kentucky and traced his ancestry back to Lord Littleton of England who was a writer on law subjects, and author of Littleton’s Tenures. Mr.  Littleton married Miss Sarah Ann Parks, who was born in Tennessee, but moved with her family to Missouri when a little girl. Her people were all large slave holders.

Their son, Samuel, the subject of this sketch, was born in Chariton County, Missouri, December 3, 1858. His father’s home was then a log cabin. The first school which he attended was held in a hewed log school house. It was under such conditions that young Littleton received most of his schooling.  When sixteen years old he commenced to teach the lower branches, in the meantime perfecting himself as well as possible in more advanced studies. Like most self-taught men, Mr.  Litttleton knew thoroughly what he had learned, and appreciated the value of persistent application.  In 1887 he commenced the practice of law at West Concord, Minnesota. Two years later he moved to Kasson, where he now lives. He has built up a large and lucrative practice, extending into many counties of the state. In 1894 he associated in the business John J. McCaughey, a young man of good standing at the bar, under the firm name of Littleton & McCaughey. One of the most interesting cases which Mr. Littleton has had was that of Sparrow vs. Pond, tried in the supreme court in April, 1892. This case is commonly known as the blackberry case. The main question was whether blackberries growing upon the bushes were real or personal property.  It is considered the leading case of the kind in the United States, and Mr. Littleton’s management of the suit for his client, the plaintiff, and his brief and argument brought him many compliments.

Mr. Littleton has always been a Republican. He was elected to the Twenty-ninth session of the Minnesota legislature by a large majority over the Democratic and Populist candidates. In the house he served as chairman of the committee on claims, was a member of the judiciary committee, and was also on the committee on municipal legislation. He was selected by the judiciary committee to make the legal argument for the report of the committee on the impeachment of Judge Frank Ives.  He was re-elected for the session of 1897.  Mr. Littleton has twice served as mayor of Kasson. He is a Mason, an Odd Fellow, a member of the United Workmen, the Modern Woodmen, the Daughters of Rebekah and the Sons of Veterans.

He is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church. On February 5, 1881, Mr. Littleton was married to Mrs. Laura A.  Sheldon, at Topeka, Kansas. Mrs. Sheldon had three children, Charles, Eva and Robert L. They have had one child, Melvin Albertis, who has developed a talent for music and is an accomplished pianist. Miss Eva will graduate from Hamline University in the class of ‘97.