U.S. Data Repository http://www.us-data.org/ -- USGenNet Inc. -- Please read the U.S. Data Repository Copyright Statement on the following page: ------------------------------------------------------------------- Littlepage, Adam B. (1859-1921) ------------------------------------------------------------------- Men of West Virginia, Volume II Biographical Publishing Company George Richmond, Pres.: C. R. Arnold, Sec'y and Treas. Chicago, Illinois, 1903 Pages 578-580 ADAM B. LITTLEPAGE, a prominent attorney-at-law of Charleston, West Virginia, was born in Kanawha County, Virginia, now West Virginia, April 14, 1859, and is a son of Adam and Rebecca T. (Wood) Littlepage, the former a native of Greenbrier County, and the latter of Kanawha County. The Littlepage family is of French-Scotch extraction. Adam Littlepage, the father of our subject, settled near Kanawha Saline and there built salt works and engaged in contracting in 1840. He removed to Kanawha Two-Mile in 1847. settled on a farm and engaged in merchandising and speculating in that vicinity. At the outbreak of the Civil War he was in independent circumstances, but like many others in the locality lost almost all his property. He owned three fine six-horse teams and hauled salt barrels from his factories to the salt works, but his teams were confiscated by the Northern Army and he lost on account of the war about $150,000 of property, being left without resources except his land. A dispute arose concerning the legality of the measure that confiscated his property, and Mr. Littlepage lost his life, in 1862, in the resulting duel at Dublin, Virginia, with Lieutenant Brown, — each killed the other. He was a courageous, fearless man, and is still remembered for his many admirable qualities. His widow was left with 900 acres of land, partially paid for, and seven children, as follows: C F., now a railroad contractor; Alexander, a physician and surgeon; Samuel D., an attorney; Adam B., of this sketch; Birdie, wife of A. M. Putney; and two deceased. Mrs. Littlepage died in Charleston, West Virginia, in 1898, aged 71 years. She was a lady of refinement and education and was beloved by all who knew her. Adam B. Littlepage was educated in the common schools of Kanawha County. His choice of a profession was the law and with the intention of beginning its study he went to Lebanon, Ohio. He there found the schools closed on account of a prevailing epidemic, and he consequently proceeded to the home of an uncle, at Lodi, Indiana. He remained with his relatives until the death of his uncle, in the meantime managing the latter's large estate. He endeavored to apply himself to his law books, but conditions were not very favorable until he was offered the use of the office and books of that eminent jurist, Judge Joshua Jump. Mr. Littlepage, favored by this fortunate opportunity, soon was prepared for his examination, and was admitted to the bar, beginning his practice at Newport, Indiana. Mr. Littlepage can now recall with amusement his early struggles with adverse circumstances, when his little office room meant place of business, and both dining and sleeping room, but the discipline developed elements of strength he never knew he possessed, that have been of inestimable benefit in his later career. The consciousness of contributing to the comfort of his beloved mother enabled him to cheerfully deprive himself of many luxuries natural to his age. For two years he struggled for a footing in Indiana, and was meeting with success, when he returned to his home and started out afresh in his profession. Success has crowned his efforts and he is widely known both in the criminal and the civil courts. His legal services have been retained in some of the most important cases in the West Virginia courts. He was the attorney of the State against the Burnett Boys, John M. Hill and wife and the Margaret Burnett conspiracy which resulted in the murder of Dr. Morris in Fayette County, West Virginia. Another case worthy of mention was that of the State vs. James A. Parker. Mr. Littlepage became the defendant's attorney after Parker had been sentenced to be hung for murder in the first degree, and finally secured in the court of last resort the prisoner's release. He now has five murder cases in Fayette County, three in Kanawha and two in Putnam, all of these attracting attention on account of his able handling of them. He has been equally successful in civil cases, and has at present on hand a number of ejectment cases involving millions of dollars or more in the State. Mr. Littlepage has been prominent in Democratic politics. He was the candidate of his party for the office of prosecuting attorney and was defeated by but 49 votes, a later counting resulting in the division of the office between the two candidates. Probably no finer nor more complete library adorns any office in the State, than the one owned by Mr. Littlepage. He is fraternally associated with these societies: Newport Lodge, A. F. & A. M.; Fernbank Lodge, I. O. O. F.; Necomis Tribe, Improved Order of Red Men; and the Order of United American Mechanics. He is a broad student and splendid thinker, of very strong personal influence. He has succeeded in accumulating some valuable property. He is regarded as an honest, upright man, a reliable adviser and splendid lawyer. His influence with juries during the trial of causes is indeed very strong. He is a ready, fluent and convincing speaker. ------------------------------------------------------------------- DEATH CERTIFICATE, Kanawha County WV, #573 FULL-NAME: Adam Brown Littlepage BIRTH-DATE: April 4, 1859 BIRTH-PLACE: Kan. Co., West Virginia DEATH-DATE: June 29, 1921 AGE-AT-DEATH: 62y-2m-26d DEATH-PLACE: Kan. Two Mile, Charleston, Kanawha County, WV MARITAL-STATUS: Married OCCUPATION: Attorney at Law FATHER: Adam B. Littlepage (born in Virginia) MOTHER: Rebecca Wood (born in Virginia) CAUSE-OF-DEATH: Uremia / Nephritis INFORMANT: Collette Littlepage (city) BURIAL: Spring Hill Cemetery ------------------------------------------------------------------- If you've reached this file through a SEARCH, you can access other biographies for Kanawha County, WV by going to the following URL: http://www.us-data.org/wv/kanawha/bios.html -------------------------------------------------------------------