Alfred H. Littlefield

Alfred Henry Littlefield (April 2, 1829 – December 21, 1893) was an American businessman and politician. He was a member of the Rhode Island House of Representatives and the Rhode Island Senate, and was the 35th Governor of Rhode Island.

Alfred Henry Littlefield
35th Governor of Rhode Island
In office
May 25, 1880 – May 29, 1883
LieutenantAlbert Howard
Preceded byCharles C. Van Zandt
Succeeded byAugustus O. Bourn
Member of the Rhode Island Senate
In office
1878–1879
Member of the Rhode Island House of Representatives
In office
1876–1877
Personal details
Born(1829-04-02)April 2, 1829
Scituate, Rhode Island, U.S.
DiedDecember 21, 1893(1893-12-21) (aged 64)
Central Falls, Rhode Island, U.S.
Resting placeSwan Point Cemetery
Providence, Rhode Island
Political partyWhig
Republican
SpouseRebecca Jane (Northrup) Littlefield
ChildrenEbenezer N. Littlefield
Minnie J. Littlefield
George H. Littlefield
Alfred H. Littlefield
Parent(s)John Littlefield
Deborah (Himes) Littlefield
ProfessionBusinessman
Politician

Early life
Pawtucket Hair Cloth Company

Littlefield was born in Scituate, Providence County, Rhode Island, on April 12, 1829.[1] In 1831, his family moved to Warwick, Rhode Island, where he attended the common schools. He worked at a dry goods store in Central Falls, Rhode Island, before working at the Littlefield Manufacturing Company. He became a partner in the company, eventually serving as president.[2] He helped found the Pawtucket Hair Cloth Company in 1861 with his brother Daniel, and served as director until his death.[3]

In 1864, he served as the division inspector of the Rhode Island Militia, and was promoted to colonel. He served in the militia for five years.[4]

Political career

Littlefield began his political career as a member of the Lincoln Town Council in 1873, and was reelected to that office four times.[5] He was a member of the Rhode Island House of Representatives in 1876 and 1877, and served in the Rhode Island Senate in 1878 and 1879.[6]

He was elected as Republican candidate to the governor's office, serving as the 35th Governor of Rhode Island from May 25, 1880, to May 29, 1883.[7] He succeeded fellow Republican Charles C. Van Zandt, who did not run for re-election in 1880. Littlefield beat the Democratic candidate Horace A. Kimball by 10,224 votes against 7,440, with 5,047 votes going to the Prohibition candidate Albert C. Howard. Republican Henry H. Fay became Lieutenant Governor.[8]

During his administration, the boundary line between Rhode Island and Massachusetts was established. He was succeeded May 29, 1883, by fellow Republican Augustus O. Bourn.

After leaving the governorship. Littlefield returned to his business interests. He was president of the First National Bank of Pawtucket, the Pawtucket Gas Company and the Pawtucket Street Railway in Pawtucket.[9]

Death
Grave at Swan Point Cemetery

He died on December 21, 1893, at his home in Central Falls, Rhode Island.[10] He is interred at Swan Point Cemetery, Providence, Rhode Island.[11]

Family life

Littlefield was the son of John and Deborah (Himes) Littlefield.[12] On February 9, 1853, Littlefield married Rebecca Jane Northrup. They had four children: Ebenezer N. Littlefield, Minnie J. Littlefield, George H. Littlefield and Alfred H. Littlefield.[13]

References
  1. National biographical publishing Company (1881). The Biographical Cyclopedia of Representative Men of Rhode Island, Page 282, Issue 589. National biographical publishing Company. p. 518.
  2. "RIGENWEB-L Archives". Ancestry.com. Retrieved 29 March 2014.
  3. Foster, E. Everton (1916). Lamb's Textile Industries of the United States: Embracing Biographical Sketches of Prominent Men and a Historical Resume of the Progress of Textile Manufacture from the Earliest Records to the Present Time, Volume 1. James H. Lamb. p. 366.
  4. J.H. Beers & Company (1908). Representative Men and Old Families of Rhode Island: Genealogical Records and Historical Sketches of Prominent and Representative Citizens and of Many of the Old Families. J.H. Beers & Company.
  5. Bayles, Richard Mather (1891). History of Providence County, Rhode Island, Volume 2. W. W. Preston. p. 462.
  6. National biographical publishing Company (1881). The Biographical Cyclopedia of Representative Men of Rhode Island, Page 282, Issue 589. National biographical publishing Company. p. 518.
  7. "U.S. States O-R". World Statesman. Retrieved 29 March 2014.
  8. Electing State Officers.; the Rhode Island Legislature Chooses a Republican Governor and Lieutenant Governor. The New York Times, May 26, 1880.
  9. Foster, E. Everton (1916). Lamb's Textile Industries of the United States: Embracing Biographical Sketches of Prominent Men and a Historical Resume of the Progress of Textile Manufacture from the Earliest Records to the Present Time, Volume 1. James H. Lamb. p. 366.
  10. J.H. Beers & Company (1908). Representative Men and Old Families of Rhode Island: Genealogical Records and Historical Sketches of Prominent and Representative Citizens and of Many of the Old Families. J.H. Beers & Company. p. 268.
  11. "Notable Persons Interred at Swan Point Cemetery". Swan Point Cemetery. Archived from the original on 22 January 2016. Retrieved 26 March 2014.
  12. "RIGENWEB-L Archives". Ancestry.com. Retrieved 29 March 2014.
  13. Bayles, Richard Mather (1891). History of Providence County, Rhode Island, Volume 2. W. W. Preston. p. 462.

Further reading
  • Sobel, Robert and John Raimo. Biographical Directory of the Governors of the United States, 1789-1978. Greenwood Press, 1988. ISBN 0-313-28093-2
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