George Little, who lives on his ranch of one hundred and thirty-five acres situated a short distance north of Folsom in Sacramento county, is one of the few octogenarian citizens living in this part of the state. He is also worthy of distinct mention in this history by reason of his long residence in the state and prominent identification with the life and industry of his community. It is now more than half a century since he arrived on the Pacific coast, being then a young man and casting in his lot with a new country. Ald though his career in this state has pursued in the main a very peaceful course, his lifetime has found him in many parts of the world and at its close leaves him a man of broad experience and familiarity with the ways of mortal existence.

Born in Selkirkshire, Scotland, October 21, 1819, a son of Scottish parents, William and Margaret (Bigger) Little, he was reared in his native land, received a fair amount of schooling and much practical experience with everyday affairs, and in 1848, accompanied by his bride of a year, he took passage at London on the sailing vessel Steadfast, and six months later landed at Sydney, New South Wales, Australia, in which possession of the British empire he sojourned about two years. He and his wife left Sydney in June, 1851, on the sail vessel Robert Bowen, and after a voyage by way of Honolulu arrived in San Francisco in four months' time. Gold mining, at Folsom and vicinity, was the chief occupation of his first years in this state, and from that industry he became interested in agriculture and later more especially in fruit and grape growing. On his present ranch he has about eighteen acres of vineyard, some thirteen acres of peaches, an acre of naval oranges, an acre of pears, and the rest in general crops. He has lived on this pretty estate since 1885, previous to that having resided on an adjoining ranch which he had settled in 1857.

The wife who accompanied him on his almost world-wide voyages in 1848 and whom he had married in Scotland the preceding year, was, in her maiden state, Miss Elizabeth Williamson, also of Scotch birth and ancestry. This companion of his life has since been taken from him, passing away on April 14, 1895, but not until they had lived as man and wife nearly fifty years. Three children were born to them, nd the two living are Margaret, wife of H. L. Stevenson, of Oakland, and William, at home. The deceased child was John A. Mr. Little is a Republican in politics. He served as a trustee of the old Ashland school district, and in many ways identified himself, by influence and work, with the community where he has spent so many years.

Source: History of the New California - Its Resources and People, Volume II

The Lewis Publishing Company - 1905
Edited by Leigh H. Irvine