SHEBOYGAN HISTORY

Timothy Littlefield, Page 362

TIMOTHY LITTLEFIELD, a representative and honored citizen of Sheboygan County, has his home residence on section 7, Lima Township, within five miles of Sheboygan Falls, and about seven miles from Plymouth.  He is one of the pioneers of the county, with whose destiny his own has been interwoven for about half a century.  A native of Somerset County, Me., where he was born August 18, 1823, our subject is one of five children, whose parents were Zebediah and Deborah (Osborne) Littlefield.  Abigail and Maria are deceased.  Our subject is al deceased.  He was engaged in the University at Appleton, Wis., and served as an Assemblyman from this district for one year.  Frank M. has also passed away.

    The father of our subject was born in the Green Mountain State, of English ancestry.  His father enlisted in the War of the Revolution at the age of eighteen years, and was a man of fine physique and endurance.  Zebediah Littlefield was reared to agricultural pursuits and was also a lumberman.  He received but limited school advantages, and emigrated to the far West in 1845.  His first settlement was on the identical farm now owned by our subject, his first purchase being a piece of partially improved land of one hundred and sixty acres.  The home, which is now occupied by D. W. Gilbert, was the residence of the family for a few months.  The forty-acre tract across the road from the present residence was paid for in cash, while the other one hundred and twenty acres was pre-empted land.  Sheboygan Falls was then a village of not more than three hundred inhabitants.  The father engaged in the lumber business until his death, which occurred November 20, 1847, at the age of sixty years.  His wife was born in Maine, December 5, 1790, and died April 5, 1873.  She was of English descent and one of twelve children.  In politics, Mr. Littlefield was a Democrat, and was actively interested in the welfare of his party.  Both parents were interred in the Dye Road Cemetery, where a monument has been erected to their memory.

    Until reaching his majority Timothy Littlefield spent his life in his native State, and then came to Wisconsin, where he aided in the work of the farm.  He had scarcely any capital, but by his sturdy New England determination, industry and frugality, has achieved a distinct success.  He was not married until he reached the age of thirty-eight, when, on the 26th day of February, 1861, he wedded Eliza A. Tupper, who was born in Summit County, Ohio, June 22, 1838.  By this union eleven children, five sons and six daughters, have been born.  Four are now deceased.  Ida M. Lives at home; Allie May became the wife of Charles Oeder, a farmer of Ransom County, N. Dak.; Willis E. operates the home farm; Frank U. is engaged in business in South Milwaukee; Lottie B., Fred M. and Ray O. complete the family.  The parents of Mrs. Littlefield were Union K. and Theodosia (Healy) Tupper.  The father was born in Vermont, but reared in New York.  He followed agricultural pursuits and came to Wisconsin in 1848, settling in Lima Township when it was an unbroken wilderness.  The Indians were plentiful, and at one time Mrs. Littlefield and her brother were at Sunday-school when a company of red men passed, the procession being fully a quarter of a mile long.  Among the number was a white child, who had probably been kidnapped by the Indians.  Mr. Tupper settled in the timber-land, and the first home of the family was a rude log cabin.  They were among the early pioneers and were known as people of integrity and worth.  the father was born in 1803 and died January 15, 1874.  His wife was born in New York, May 14, 1814, and died April 5, 1890.

    In political faith, Mr. Littlefield is independent and exercises his right of franchise in supporting the men and measures he considers most worthy.  His first vote was cast for James K. Polk.  For two years he has been Supervisor of Lima Township, and was elected Justice of the Peace several times, but did not qualify.  He has been connected with the public schools of his township for many years, and has their good greatly at heart.  For many years he has been numbered among the progressive farmers of the community, and owns one hundred and sixty acres of improved land.  he has a comfortable home and has made many substantial additions to his farm.  Mrs. Littlefield and her daughter Ida are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church.  On the 21st of March, 1888, the parents met a severe loss in the death of their eldest daughter, Clara A., who was then a young lady of twenty-six years.  She was a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and her loss has been deeply mourned, not only in the household, but among her many friends in the community.  She was possessed of a superior education, was a graduate of the Sheboygan Falls High School, and had been a successful teacher in the county.