LITCHFIELD. LITTLE. 379 chestra in New York. Shortly after, he organized the Boston Philharmonic Club, and traveled over almost the whole conti- nent of America. In 1S79 he settled in Boston, organized and conducted the Bos- ton Philharmonic Orchestra, and was for one season the musical director of the Philharmonic Society. From 1881 to '85 he was concert-meisterof the Boston Sym- phonic Orchestra. At present he teaches extensively. Five children have been born to him. LITCHFIELD, GEORGE ALLEN, son of Richard and Xoa (Clapp) Litchfield, was born in Scituate, Plymouth county, August 21, 1838. His early education was obtained at the common schools of his native town, and at the academy in Hanover. He entered Brown University, Providence, R. I., but did not fully complete his college course. GEORGE A. LITCHFIELD He studied for the ministry, and in 1861 was settled as pastor over the Baptist church, Winchendon, Mass., where he re- mained five years. Ill health caused him to relinquish this field of labor, and he subsequently became interested in the insurance business, and for some years has been very successfully engaged in the conduct of a large life insurance agency for western Massachusetts. In 1S74 he purchased a half interest in the long established firm of Brigham, Whit- man & Co., tack and nail manufacturers at South Abington, the firm becoming Brig- ham, Litchfield & Vining. Here he re- mained until the fall of 1879, when he be- came interested in the establishment of the Massachusetts Benefit Association, the leading company in New England engaged in the mutual assessment insurance busi- ness. Organized in 1879, it has enjoyed a continuous era of prosperity, evincing skill- ful and prudent management. It has now a membership of some eighteen thousand, and has an outstanding insurance of about $60,000,000, written upon its books. Since commencing business, October 13, 1879, only fifty-five mortuary calls had been made to September 1, 1889. From these death and disability losses have been paid amounting to over $3,000,000, and a cash surplus accumulated amounting to over $360,000. It has kept all its pledges, and met its obligations in a highly creditable and hon- orable manner. No small share of this phenomenal success is due to the untiring energy and intelligent supervision of Mr. Litchfield, one of the few gentlemen of its present board of managers who participa- ted in its original organization. Mr. Litchfield was married in South Abington, November 21, 1861, to Sarah M., daughter of Davis and Eliza (Blanch- ard) Gurney. Their children are : Cannie Zetta, Everett Starr and Frederick Ells- worth. His residence is in Wollaston, a part of the city of Quincy. LITTLE, SAMUEL, son of Isaac and Sally (Lincoln) Little, was born in Fling- ham, Plymouth county, August 15, 1827. His father was born in Pembroke, in 1796, and died in Hingham, in 1864. His mother was born in Hingham, in 1792, and died there in 1861. Her father, Seth, a mem- ber of one of the oldest families (the Lin- colns) in the town of Hingham, was born in 1 75 1 and died in 1839, the line of de- scent running back to Seth, Samuel, Sam- uel, Samuel to Samuel, who came from Hingham, England, to Hingham, Mass., in 1637- Mr. Little received his educational train- ing in the Derby Academy, Hingham. On leaving the academy he obtained a position as cashier and book-keeper in the dry-goods house of Daniell & Company, in the city of Boston. On the organization of the Bank of Commerce, in 1850, he was made receiving teller, which position he held un- til 1853, when he was made cashier of the
