No date on letter. J. B. died 9 Sep 1947 in a rest home at Poteau OK. His wife Mary Jane Ross Little had died 16 Jan 1946 on her 87th birthday. Prior to that time both John B. and Mary Jane had been in nursing homes away from Abbott, so it is likely the letter was written no later than 1944 or 45. Elder T. B. Little , "who died at Rison, Arkansas some time ago" died in 1920.
Mr. Preston Helms handed me a letter from you and asked me to see if I could give you the information you are looking for. And by way of introducing myself my mother was a sister of Elder T.B.Little who died at Rison, Arkansas some time ago. I am able to trace my ancestors back to James Little, who at the first census of the US in 1790 lived in what is now Stanley County, NC; was married and had one child and owned no slaves. I was born and grew up in sight of the James Little old homestead on the south side of Rocky River in Union County. James Little was a Mason but abandoned that order and joined the First Primitive Baptist Church that I have any account of. It was just north of Rocky River at the Little's Ford Bridge. The name of the church was "Washington". He had ten or more sons and daughters, amongst which was my grandfather. One of the sons moved to Pulaski County, GA. This was some time before the Civil War. Two of his sons, who were most grown when he left these parts, came back when they became men. One of them was Singleton Little who was for a number of years moderator of the Bear Creek Association. Others of that branch of the family moved on west from Georgia. I recall hearing Uncle T.B.Little say one of his descendants was Clerk of Court at Texarkana. Another son of James Little, George Little, was chosen moderator when the Bear Creek Association was organized in 1835 at Bear Creek Church in Stanley County. This Bear Creek Church organization has continued to this day but went with a faction that countenances and affiliates with the advocates of Absolute Predestination, or all things, good or bad. Another son of James Little was Aaron Little, the father of Elder T.B.Little. You can do me a favor if you can give me the address of some of Uncle T.B.Little's children. As to the Rosses and Pressons, I do not know but very little. Write Mr. T.O.Ross, Marshville, N.C. Also Mr. T.C.Stewart, Wingate, N.C. His mother was a Ross and I think their forbears came from a little further west. As to the Pressons, there are several Presson families living in Union County north of Monroe. I know several of the old Pressons that have already passed on, and the oldest member of these families known to me is Mr. Lemuel Presson, Monroe, N.C. There are a lot of Littles in Anson County, but I cannot trace any relationship with them.
Best wishes,
Zeb.H.Little, Marshville, NC
P.S. A good many of the Littles about here are Primitive Baptists. Uncle J.L.Little, twin brother of Uncle T.B.Little, never joined the church, but would defend Primitive Baptist principles as quick or quicker than his twin brother and could do it as well or better than the preacher. I think most of the Rosses are Baptists of the Missionary persuasion. Most of the Pressons with which I am acquainted are Methodists. I think the Mr. Ross whose address I am giving you can in all probability trace relationship with Mrs. Little. If you write him give him the name of some of the Ross forebears stating what relationship they were to Mrs. Little and I imagine he will be able to tell you if they were related to his forebears.