Norton
William David Little was born April 20, 1849, in Sullivan County, New York, and was raised on a farm. He began the study of medicine with Dr. C.A.S. Grove at Sylvania, Ohio, in 1871. In 1872 went one term at the Ann Arbor University, and in 1878?, he attended the Detroit Medical College, staying there until March 1874?, When he began the practice of medicine at Sylvania, Ohio. In October 1875, he went to Carleton, Michigan, and continued the practice of medicine there until February, 1878, when he came to Kansas and again took up the practice of medicine at Lenora in March of the same year.
Dr. Little was married to Louisa Yates in August, 1871. They buried five children with scarlet fever in Norton in 1881, have lost one since and have six living. He was elected county treasurer in 1876(?), as a republican, and served one term. He is a prominent member of the Masonic order and is worshipful master of the Norton Lodge at this time. He was appointed pension examiner for this district in 1889 and holds that position yet. He resides on a farm five miles west of Norton.
– Taken from Lockard’s History of Norton County (1894)
1880 Census Norton County, Twin Mound township, page 12
William Little, age 30, born NY; Louisa, age 28, born Ohio; Owen B., age 8, born Ohio; Mary A., age 6, born Ohio; Floyd Y. age 5, born Michigan; Willie C. age 4, born Michigan; Frank, age 1/12 Jan. born Kansas. Occupation for William is Farmer.
Tidbits from newspapers:
June 15, 1882—Deaths of Dr. Little’s children of scarlet fever over the past week, Mary, died Friday, Baby , Sunday morn, Floyd, Sunday night and Willie Friday. Clarence died Feb. 9 1888. These children were buried just north of F. E. Kennedy lot.
August 9, 1882- Owen Little , was named as student in normal institute.
There was a male child born to Louisa and Wm. D. Little, January 16, 1887, he was the 8th.
August 5, 1880- Dr. Little, Treasurer elect has moved to town with his family. He leaves office in 1882. January 20, 1881-Dr Little county Treasurer is getting so large that his quarters in the court house will soon have to be enlarged. Since taking possession he has gained over 60 pounds, now weighing 262 pounds. Oh, but he was back on the streets in December 1882 and had lost 13 pounds. He might have moved to Lenora again.
Dr. liked sheep, and had flocks of them around Lenora as well as Norton.
Mrs. Little took quite a few trips back to her home in Ohio.
1891 the parents of Dr. Little, from Michigan were visiting.
August 23, 1894- Doc Little left with his family on Monday to hunt a new location in the country north. Doc was one of our old time citizens and we are sorry that he should be under the necessity to leave. We wish him success however, wherever he may decide to locate.
September 6, 1894- Dr. Little and family are reported to have sold everything after they got up in Nebraska and returned to his fathers house “by railroad”. This we doubt very much as our sister state is so much worse off for crops that her people can’t buy anything.