San
Joaquin County
Biographies
TILLMAN B. LITTLETON
Public spirited to an unusual
degree, Tillman B. Littleton, the present commissioner of finance, revenue and
public supplies of Stockton, has for many years taken an active part in civic affairs,
contributing of his time and wide experience to the cause of good
government. His father lost his life in
the Civil War, and in 1873 the mother brought her family to California. She was a member of the historic old Cameron
family of Tennessee, and was herself a native of that state. Her parents were members of one of the early
parties that started across the plains in 1847, and they were both killed by
the Mormons in the Mountain Meadow massacre.
Tillman B. Littleton was born
September 1, 1856, in Jackson County, Arkansas, and accompanied his mother to
California in 1873, the family locating on a ranch on Waterloo Road. He finished his education in Stockton and
attended the old Stockton Business College, where F. R. Clarke was one of his
teachers. He then went to work on
ranches, working for wages until he was able to go into ranching on his own
account. He rented considerable land and
was one of the successful wheat raisers, one year producing 6,000 sacks, which
he hauled to the Sperry Flour Mills, receiving one dollar a bushel for it. Later he purchased a grain ranch of 160 acres
on Waterloo Road, where he made his home for some time. In 1897 he disposed of this place and since
then he has made his home in Stockton, being closely identified with its
affairs since that time.
At first, on coming to Stockton, Mr.
Littleton bought and sold hay, and later, becoming
more and more interested in civic affairs he has devoted the greater part of
his time to public work. He was elected
superintendent of streets and held this office for one term and then for two
years served as harbor master. Next he
entered the street and sewer contracting business, building miles of macadam
and gravel streets in Stockton, and in one summer he built $24,000 worth of
sewers for the city. Entering again into
the commercial life of the city, Mr. Littleton bought out the Yolland Ice and Coal Company and for ten years conducted it
with success, selling out when he was elected to his present office in 1918 for
a term of four years. There were ten
candidates for this office, but Mr. Littleton was elected at the primaries,
receiving more votes than all the other candidates put together, a record to be
justly proud of, and showing the high esteem in which he is held by his constituency
through the splendid service he had rendered in other public posts.
Mr. Littleton’s first marriage
united him with Miss Katie Hayes, a native of Missouri, and one son, Roy J.,
now employed in the Central Bank at Oakland, was born to them. He is married and has two children, Frances
and Gloria. Mrs. Littleton passed away
in 1906 and Mr. Littleton was married a second time to Miss Kathryn Harvey, a
native of California, and they have a daughter, Alice Loraine. In addition to his busy life as a public
official, Mr. Littleton is prominent in lodge circles, being a member of the
Elks, Foresters of America, Loyal Order of Moose, and the Truth Lodge of the
Odd Fellows. Politically he is a
Democrat.
Transcribed by Gerald Iaquinta.
Source: Tinkham, George
H., History of San Joaquin County, California , Page
630. Los Angeles, Calif.: Historic
Record Co., 1923.
© 2011 Gerald Iaquinta.
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