Plentywood herald. [volume] (Plentywood, Mont.) 1908-current, 1928-11-08

TvNIl6 5buIuy 5OlultIS Oh The IOlu carrying
the Methodist gospel behind broncho
4 and blackboard in the wilds of Mon
tana numbered three in 1885. With the
winter of that year the shock troops were
swelled to four. The newcomer was the
Rev. Job H. Little, a London native, who
allowed upon his arrival at Fort Shaw
Dec. Is, that the stage coach trip from
Helena had been worse han an ocean
crossing.
A week ago the same man celebrated
his 81st birthday at the Sun River Meth
odist church, an edifice which he was
instrumental in building. On the plat
members of the congregation h heard
his first sermon in Sun River 43 years
ago.
1t was a far cry from London to Mon
tana and it's a far cry from the rigorous
circuit rider days when a horse and
blackboard were as necessary to the
preacher as a Bible. In his 43 years OF
ministering in Montana. the Rev. MIR
Little has watched the state in its evolu-
ton and now keenly enjoys the contrasts
which today and the day of his arrival
present.
stopped in Brooklyn
The pastor. who was prepared for the
ministry In a London college, came with
lllo WIG dliQ QduSllbCl W liC OlltSQ otdttf
in 1871, intent upon settling in Nebraska
A badly flattened pocketbook caused the
Littles to remain in Brooklyn, N. Y.
where Mr.. Little engaged in various
church activities and continued his
study at the Brooklyn Tabernacle col
lege. In 1877 he was licensed to preach
in the United States and became the
first pastor of the Wesley church in
Brooklyn.
A friend. Ell Sheppard. who was a
blacksmith at Fort Shaw, was instru-
mental in obtaining the Reverend Little
a circuit appointment in this state in
1885.
When the pastor arrived at Fort Shaw,
considerably worse for the wear after the
long trip, he ventured pon a circuit
which covered a large portion of the
counties of Lewis and Clark, Meagher
and Chouteau. There was one church
at Sun River, parsonage at Fort Benton
and q small two-room house at Phil
brook neal the present Hobson.
Is Chaplain Also
The Rev. Little found he was to be
the regular pastor of the third regiment
of the United States army stationed at
Fort Shaw. When the t~wenty-fifth regi-
ment, a negro unit, replaced the third.
the Reverend Little continued to do the
preaching. The Fort Shaw indian school
also came under the pastors Jurisdiction
n many Indians on the Blackfeet res
ervation remember his preaching. He
married several Indian couples at Fort
Shaw.
The new circuit rider preached his first
sermon in Sun River, Dec. 81, 1885. The
six surviving members of the congrega-
ton who heard that first sermon and
who were with the Rev. Little at The
anniversary q week ago., are Mrs. Jessie
Robertson, Mrs. Susan Strong, Mrs. Ellen
Blossom, G. A. Bull, Mortimer Blossom
n John Largent.
Throughout the severe winters and hot
summers the pastor rode his circuit. He
says that he drove one horse 5000 miles.
He recalls battling heavy snowstorms
to get to his places OF meeting and re-
counts how he once was followed by q
pack Of wolves. The animals came so
close to his wagon that he might have
touched them. He paid no attention to
them and they soon disappeared.
Family Came In 1886
Mrs. Little and the three children came
to Montana in the spring of 1886. In
1890 the pastor shifted his activities
to Cascade where he supervised the con-
struction of the st. Clair church. He
remained there a year, then went to
VAUDEVILLE where he stayed for two years.
Thence he went to West Great Falls.
which passionate he held for five years.
The Rev. MIR. Little then returned to
Cascade. Although now retired from the
ministry, the aged pastor still conducts
services at the Sun River church and
answers calls from the congregation
nearby.
The pastor recalls the day in 1885 on
which the Cascade townsite was selected.
He had Just returned from a conference
at Helena and On the way had met Tom
Gorham with whom he had dinner. The