Littlefield, George W. (George Washington), 1842-1920

George Washington Littlefield, born June 21, 1842 and died November 10, 1920, owned cotton plantation in Gonzales, Texas. Littlefield served in Civil War under Albert Sydney Johnson, (Terry's Rangers), rising to the rank of Major. Littlefield owned several ranches in Texas and New Mexico. In 1901 with his nephews, J. P. and T. P. White, he bought The Yellow House Ranch from the Capitol Syndicate. Littlefield founded the American National Bank in Austin, served on the University of Texas Board of Regents, and donated over $2,000,000 to the University of Texas. Littlefield was also active in the United Veterans of the Confederacy.

George W. Littlefield, born in Mississippi on June 21, 1842, moved to Texas as a child and grew up on his family's plantation in Gonzales County. He attended Gonzales College and Baylor University before joining Terry's Texas Rangers at the outset of the Civil War and fighting at Shiloh, Perryville, Chickamauga and finally Mossy Creek. After the war he returned to Texas to work the plantation co-owned with his brother. Early financial losses were followed by successes in livestock and real estate, and by 1881 he sold his sizable ranch and water rights for almost $250,000. Littlefield continued to expand ranching operations, buying property and water rights in New Mexico and Texas, including the Yellow House Ranch in Hockley and Lamb counties (Texas). He also diversified his business operations by venturing into banking and founding the American National Bank in Austin. The bank was housed in the ornate 9-story Littlefield Building, complete with cast bronze doors. Littlefield also owned the historic Driskill Hotel in Austin. In 1911 Littlefield was appointed to the University of Texas Board of Regents, and thus embarked on a period of great influence on the state's flagship university. Through a relationship with legendary historian and faculty member Eugene C. Barker, Littlefield sought to strengthen the archival collections of the university, and in 1914 he began what would eventually be well over $100,000 in support to establish the Littlefield Fund for Southern History. Littlefield's work was fundamental in the establishment of the archival resources of the Barker Texas History Center, and, later, the Center for American History. He also gave generously to purchase the John Henry Wrenn Library, and donated the Littlefield home and other important landmarks to the university. Littlefield was the University of Texas' largest single financial supporter in the first fifty years of the institution's existence. After his death on November 10, 1920, George W. Littlefield was buried in Austin.

George W. Littlefield, born in Mississippi on June 21, 1842, moved to Texas as a child and grew up on his family's plantation in Gonzales County. He attended Gonzales College and Baylor University before joining Terry's Texas Rangers at the outset of the Civil War and fighting at Shiloh, Perryville, Chickamauga and finally Mossy Creek. After the war he returned to Texas to work the plantation co-owned with his brother. Early financial losses were followed by successes in livestock and real estate, and by 1881 he sold his sizable ranch and water rights for almost $250,000.

Littlefield continued to expand ranching operations, buying property and water rights in New Mexico and Texas, including the Yellow House Ranch in Hockley and Lamb counties (Texas). He also diversified his business operations by venturing into banking and founding the American National Bank in Austin. The bank was housed in the ornate 9-story Littlefield Building, complete with cast bronze doors. Littlefield also owned the historic Driskill Hotel in Austin.

In 1911 Littlefield was appointed to the University of Texas Board of Regents, and thus embarked on a period of great influence on the state's flagship university. Through a relationship with legendary historian and faculty member Eugene C. Barker, Littlefield sought to strengthen the archival collections of the university, and in 1914 he began what would eventually be well over $100,000 in support to establish the Littlefield Fund for Southern History. Littlefield's work was fundamental in the establishment of the archival resources of the Barker Texas History Center, and, later, the Dolph Briscoe Center for American History. He also gave generously to purchase the John Henry Wrenn Library, and donated the Littlefield home and other important landmarks to the university. Littlefield was the University of Texas' largest single financial supporter in the first fifty years of the institution's existence. After his death on November 10, 1920, George W. Littlefield was buried in Austin.

Born to Fleming and Mildred Terrell (Satterwhite) White Littlefield in Panola County, Mississippi, George Washington Littlefield (1842-1920) immigrated with his family to Gonzales County, Texas, in 1850. Raised on his family’s plantation, Littlefield attended Gonzales College and Baylor University before joining Company I of the 8th Texas Cavalry during the Civil War. Fighting in the battles of Shiloh, Perryville, and Chickamauga, he was promoted to commander of the regiment and eventually major. Following his marriage to Alice Payne Tillar in 1863, and his subsequent injury and discharge from the regiment a year later, Littlefield returned to his family plantation.

Financial losses compelled him to sell a herd of cattle in 1871, after which he engaged in several entrepreneurial activities, including operating a dry goods store as well as purchasing various ranching operations, property in Texas and New Mexico, more livestock, and water rights along the Canadian River. In 1883, Littlefield moved to Austin, where he served on the board of the State National Bank before establishing the American National Bank in 1890. He was the president of the bank until his retirement in 1918, when his nephew Hiram Augustus Wroe (1867-1943) accepted the position. Wroe married Pearl White, Littlefield’s niece, in 1898, and he served as the president of the bank until his appointment to the University of Texas (UT) at Austin Board of Regents from 1920 through 1927. Littlefield also served on the Board of Regents of UT from 1911 through 1920, during which he created the Littlefield Fund for Southern History at the Eugene C. Barker Texas History Center (now the Dolph Briscoe Center for American History), and was the benefactor of the Littlefield Fountain and the Alice P. Littlefield Dormitory.

Sources:

Gracy, David B., II. Littlefield, George Washington. Handbook of Texas Online . Accessed September 20, 2011. http://www.tshaonline.org/handbook/online/articles/fli18 .

Hiram Augustus Wroe. Find a Grave. Accessed September 20, 2011. http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=47678399 .