The Little Family Farm
The original house built by Jonathan and Mary Little.
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Originally purchased by George Washington Groce from the United States of America, on May 1st 1852, at the approval of, President Millard Fillmore; the farm has only been owned by 5 different families during that time: The Moore family, The Sneed family, The Graff family, The Cocke family, and currently The Little Family.
Purchased on the 17th of November 1916, by Jonathan and Mary Little, the plot of land is located in Hamilton County Illinois, in the township of South Crouch. The Little Family Farm has been the prized possession of the Little family for over 100 years, and is currently owned by its 4th generation of Littles. Over the years it has seen many crops come and go, the raising of livestock to include horses, cows, pigs, and chickens, the construction and addition to the family home, as well as the removal of trees and addition of a pond. For the last 15 years it has served as a estuary for wildlife, currently helping to preserve the bee population in the great state of Illinois. |
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Five Generations of The Little Family
Jonathan and Mary LittleOn 17 November 1916, Jonathan and Mary Little purchased the current farm from M.L. and Mollie Cocke for $1,100. Jon and Mary were farmers who also raised horses, cows and chickens.
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Wilburn and Mary LittleWilburn inherited the property in 1964 after the passing of his mother. He would loan the property to his sister for a brief time, but cared for the land with his wife Mary until his death in 1980.
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Jim and John LittleJohn and Jim Little inherited the property in 1980 after the passing of their father in October. They cared for the land until the passing of their mother Mary in March 2006.
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Michael and Elizabeth LittleMichael Little was raised on the farm by his Grandmother, until he joined the Navy, following the terrorist attacks of 9/11/01. In 2006 he returned home briefly to attend college at Rend Lake College, only to be recalled to serve in Iraq in 2008. Following his tour of duty in Iraq, Michael was again recalled to serve his country in Afghanistan from 2009-2010. Michael returned to his beloved home in 2010, to recover from his traumatic experiences of war, and to once again begin college at Rend Lake. In 2013, Michael married his best friend and former shipmate from the USS Ronald Reagan, Elizabeth Ann Leretsis, from Erie, PA. In 2014, they purchased The Little Family Farm, from Michaels Father and Uncle, making them the 4th Generation of Little's to own the property. Currently Elizabeth is an Active Duty Coast Guardsman, and the family is stationed away from their home, but they plan to return after Elizabeth's retirement from the Coast Guard, and finish raising their family, and building a new home. It is Michael's goal to some day own the original 60 acres that have been sold off over the years, and ultimately pass that down to his children William and Mary. As far as Michael is concerned this farm will remain with the Little family, for as far in the future as the land exists.
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