This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Surnames: Robinson, Little Classification: Query Message Board URL: http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec/msg/an/3cDBAIB/8186 Message Board Post: America's Successful Men of Affairs: An Encyclopedia of Contemporaneous Biography Volume I L Anson Livingston page 398 JOSEPH JAMES LITTLE, printer, was born in England, June 5, 1841. He began life in modest circumstances, the son of James Little, a tailor who emigrated to the United States in 1847. The family settled soon afterward in Morris, Otsego county, N.Y. Joseph left district school at the age of fourteen to learn the trade of a printer as an apprentice. Three years later, he came to New York and found employment in the printing office of Rennie, Shea & Lindsey, rising to the foremanship about 1864. Two years later, Mr. Little began business on his own account in a small way, having for a junior partner his former employer, Mr. Rennie. A third associate joining in the venture, the three with the combined capital of $5,000 Started the printing office of Little, Rennie & Co. on Broome street, in 1867. Being practical and hard working men they made their way by inches. In 1873, William Jennings Demorest joined the firm and brought them the printing of his fashion papers. The business fi! nally grew quite large and in 1871 was moved to an uptown location. In his present large quarters on Astor place, they do an enormous business in the printing of books, magazines, etc., employing about 500 persons. The present title of J. J. Little & Co. was adopted in 1876. The success of Mr. Little is due to sound business methods, steady persistence, and the adoption of the most modern processes in the work of his house. He is a member of the Aldine, Manhattan, Players' and Democratic clubs, and of the Chamber of Commerce, The General Society of Mechanics & Tradesmen, The American Geographical Society, The American Institute, Lafayette Post, G. A. R., and Kane Lodge, F. & A. M., and Colonel of the Veteran Association of the 71st Regiment, N. G., S. N.Y. He is also a director of The Astor Place Bank and trustee of The New York Infant Asylum. He saw service in the Civil War and has been a member of the Board of Education, resigning to take a seat in the 52d Congress, to wh! ich he was elected by a plurality of over 8,000. He has served on seve ral public committees. In 1866, he married Josephine Robinson. Of their eight children, six survive: Edith Agnes, Arthur W., Louise S. (now Mrs. Thompson), Estelle R., Raymond D., and Elsie Little.