52 Ancestors - J. S. Littrell – A Mean Man

Amy Johnson Crow of No Story Too Small issued the 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks Challenge.  Each week focus on one ancestor and post something about him or her.

Me - My Mom - Ruby Alberta Belknap - Bessie Beatrice Landers - Angeline Henrietta Littrell - John H Littrell (J.S. Littrell  brother to John?)

We tend to think the best of our ancestors when all we have to go by are a few records with dates and names. Sometimes there’s a family history or obituary portraying them as an upstanding citizen of the community. And if they weren’t so upstanding maybe very little was said. While searching for my 2^nd great grandfather John H. Littrell in the Dubuque, Iowa, USA newspapers, I came across all the dirt on Jacob S. Littrell, also know as J. S. Littrell.  I believe he may be John’s brother or close relative. I have yet to find prove of a relationship, but there’s strong evidence of a family tie. Both John and Jacob are one of the few Littrells in the Dubuque area during 1850s and 1860s, they are close enough in ages to be brothers. John is born about 1830, Jacob 1833. They both enlisted in the Union army during the civil war in the same regiment. John enlisted in the regular army 12^th infantry regiment on November 29, 1861, Jacob  enlisted on February 14, 1862 

My 2 ^nd great grandfather John died in Dubuque, Iowa in November of 1862 after being medically discharged on October 11, 1862. Jacob was discharged on February 14, 1865 and returned to Dubuque. I’m not sure what kind of man my 2^nd great grandfather was, but J. S. led a scandalous life in Dubuque, Iowa. It was all highlighted in the Dubuque Herald on February 23, 1873. Just the title suggest he wasn't highly thought of. 

 A MEAN MAN -  The Depth of Moral Filth a Man May Revel in and Yet Assume an Air of Decency. - A Few Interesting Facts in the History of J.S. Littrell, the Recent City Engineer. - An Incompetent Officer -- A Wife Deserter and a Patron of Lewd Women. 

The article gives a few facts of J. S. Littrell's life. It states he moved from Maryland to Iowa with his parents in 1847.  He lived in Maquoketa for a while.  J. S. was 40 years old on the February 20, 1873, making his birth date February 20,1833. He married Mary Ann Kelly about 1853. In the 1870 census, J. S. and Mary are living in Dubuque, Iowa with children Frank, 9 years old, and Charles, 2 years old. 

Most of the article is about his scandalous ways. Somehow he became the city engineer in 1870 serving out the unexpired term of Mr. Crusius. It states he was man of more than average ability, but he put a poor effort in at work and accepted bribes. He had numerous relations with lewd women, leaving his sickly wife at home. Then he left town leaving his family in poverty with unpaid debts.

I don't think J. S. would have returned to Dubuque, Iowa after his scandal. I did find in the United States Records of Headstones of Deceased Union Veterans, a headstone record for Jacob S. Littrell in Denver Colorado in the Riverside cemetery that lists his death date as December 2, 1889. 

Looking at census records, it looks like his boys Frank and Charlie stayed in the Dubuque, Iowa area. 

More on the Littrell family:

The American Civil War - John H Littrell

Sources:

 "United States Registers of Enlistments in the U.S. Army, 1798-1914," index and images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/VRQC-C3X : accessed 20 Aug 2014), John H Littrell, 29 Nov 1861; citing p. 25, volume 56, Dubuque, , Iowa, United States, NARA microfilm publication M233, roll 28, National Archives and Records Administration, Washington D.C.; FHL microfilm 350334.

 "United States Registers of Enlistments in the U.S. Army, 1798-1914," index and images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/VRQC-CCK : accessed 20 Aug 2014), Jacob S Littrell, 14 Feb 1862; citing p. 31, volume 56, Dubuque, , Iowa, United States, NARA microfilm publication M233, roll 28, National Archives and Records Administration, Washington D.C.; FHL microfilm 350334.

"A Mean Man," The Dubuque Herald, 23 February 1873, p. 4, column 2; digital image, My Heritage (http://www.myheritage.com : accessed 21 August 2014).

 "United States Census, 1870," index and images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/MDVM-ZMP : accessed 21 Aug 2014), Mary Littrell in household of J S Littrell, Iowa, United States; citing p. 44, family 357, NARA microfilm publication M593, FHL microfilm 000545888.

 "United States Records of Headstones of Deceased Union Veterans, 1879-1903," index and images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/V6HW-JBZ : accessed 21 Aug 2014), Jacob S Littrell, 02 Dec 1889; citing Denver, , Colorado, NARA microfilm publication M1845, roll 12, National Archives and Records Administration, Washington D.C.; FHL microfilm 2155587.