Born: October 12, 1837 in New York, a son of John Littlejohn born in England and Julia Ann Jaquish born in Vermont
Died: April 19, 1926, buried in Merrillsville Cemetery
Married: 1st wife Helen P. McCarter (September 5, 1840 - December 17, 1901) in September 1859; 2nd wife Gertrude Bliss Field in 1903
Children: Mrs. William Seiwars, Charlotte Littlejohn, James W. Littlejohn
James Woodard Littlejohn was a Civil War veteran, having served in Company C, 118th Regiment, New York State Volunteers. In 1860, the Merrill Inn was purchased by James W. Littlejohn (Natalie Leduc's grandfather), and it was operated as the Littlejohn Tavern for the next fifty years.
Lake Placid News, Friday, April 23, 1926
James W. Littlejohn, 89, Dies at Home Monday
James W. Littlejohn, 89, one of the few surviving veterans of the G. A. R. in Lake Placid, died after a lingering illness at his home on Monday afternoon. He lived for some time in Merrillsville, but had been a resident of Lake Placid for many years.
Funeral services were held at his late home yesterday afternoon, Rev. R. L. Clark, officiating. Burial was at Merrillsville at 4 o'clock the same afternoon.
A full account of Mr. Littlejohn's life will be given in next week's issue of the News.
Lake Placid News, Friday, April 30, 1926
DEATH CLAIMS AGED VETERAN OF CIVIL WAR
James W. Littlejohn, 90 Called Home-First Union Soldier to Enter Richmond-Was Universally Respected
James Woodard Littlejohn died at his home on Saranac Avenue on Monday, April 19, after being in poor health for a number of years.
Mr. Littlejohn was born in the town of Franklin in 1836, the son of John and Julia Jaquish Littlejohn. In September, 1859, he married Miss Helen P. McCarter at AuSable Fork. Five children were born of this union.
He enlisted at St. Armand as a private in Co. C., 118 Regiment, New York State Volunteers on August 12, 1862. He was soon made wagon master having charge of the immense wagon trains then necessary to transport equipment and ammunition. He was said to have been the first Union soldier to ride into the city of Richmond.
He participated in the battles of Petersburg Heights, Ft. Harrison, Swift Creek, Cold Harbor, Chapin's Farm, and Drury's Bluff where he received a bayonet wound. He was one of the victims of the typhoid epidemic and sent to a hospital at Washington. He was mustered out in July, 1865. He was a member of the Brennan post of the G. A. R. at Malone.
After the war he was engaged in farming, lumbering and in his younger days did some surveying for the state in northern New York. He spent the greater part of his life in Franklin county of which he was a supervisor for a number of years. On the board with him at the time were Walker Moody of Belmont, Phillip King of Brighton and Mr. Dempsey of Malone.
Mr. Littlejohn always took an active part in all civic affairs. He lived in Merrillsville for many years. He donated the ground for the first district school there and also for the Methodist church at Merrillsville of which he was still a member at the time of his death. He also gave funds and lumber toward the building of this church.
The death of his wife [unreadable] marriage to Gertrude Field of Lake Placid at Montreal in 1903. Due to his advanced age he has been in declining health for some time although he had been fairly active until this winter. He was a man of clear insight and interesting personality.
Funeral services, conducted by Rev. R. L. Clark were held at the home at 12.30 on Thursday and at the M. E. church at Merrillsville at 2.30. When the funeral party arrived there the flags were at half-mast in honor of Mr. Littlejohn who had been so interested in the welfare of the community. The funeral was attended by many of his old friends and neighbors there. Two G. A. R. veterans from Lake Placid attended as well as a firing squad from the American Legion who fired a salute and sounded taps over the grave. The bearers were: Willis Wells, Frank Fay, Earl Barton, Thomas Collins, and Sheldon Otis.
The deceased is survived by his widow, a daughter by his first marriage, Mrs. William Seiwars of Scarsdale, Charlotte and James W. Littlejohn of Lake Placid, and a sister, Mrs. L. Guill of Merrillsville.
Malone Farmer, October 27, 1920
James W. Littlejohn, long a resident of Merrillsville, and formerly an able supervisor of the town of Franklin, has made his home for some time in Lake Placid. Recently he reached his 85th birthday, and the occasion made memorable by the Woman's Relief Corps of that place, Mr. Littlejohn being a civil war-veteran. The corps arranged a surprise party and took possession of his home, the 40 guests including several G. A. R. veterans. A bountiful supper was served, the centerpiece of one of the tables being a large birthday cake, ornamented with red, white and blue candles. Boy Scouts acted as waiters and all had a fine time. In behalf of the Relief Corps Mr. Littlejohn was presented with an exquisite basket overflowing with all kinds of fruit. He was also the recipient of a number of other gifts.
Note: The following were listed as children by a genealogist who started this page: With Helen: Freddie Littlejohn (1860 -1862), born in N. Y., Etta Littlejohn (b. ~1867), Ella M. Littlejohn, Adelaide Littlejohn Dimond, Sarah H. Littlejohn Scrivers (b. ~ 1871), Johnie Littlejohn (1874-May 10, 1875), and infant died at age 1 day. With Gertrude: James Littlejohn Jr. (b. ~1905), and Charlotte Littlejohn, Sadie Littlejohn Macallister
