David M. Little

David Mason Little (1860 – February 6, 1923) was an American businessman and politician from Salem, Massachusetts

David M. Little
Collector of Customs the Salem and Beverly District
In office
1903–1913
Preceded byJohn Daland
Succeeded byDistrict eliminated
Mayor of Salem, Massachusetts
In office
1900–1900
Preceded byJames H. Turner
Succeeded byJohn F. Hurley
Personal details
Born1860 (1860)
Swampscott, Massachusetts
Died (aged 63)
Boston
Political partyRepublican
Alma materMassachusetts Institute of Technology
OccupationShipbuilder
Automobile manufacturer

Early life and education

Little was born in Swampscott, Massachusetts, in 1860. His father, James L. Little, was the agent for the Pacific Mills in Lawrence, Massachusetts, for 20 years. Little attended the Hopkinton School and graduated from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in 1879.[1]

Business career

Photography

Little was involved during the early years of instantaneous photography. He spent six years with the Forbes Lithograph Company. He made his own dry plates and patented a photographic shutter. In 1880, Little became the first American to take pictures of vessels in motion. He had a collection of 800 negatives of marine subjects and published a book of marine studies that included his own photos.[1]

Shipbuilding

In 1889, Little went to Europe to study naval architecture. He returned to the United States in 1891 and purchased a shop in Salem, Massachusetts. The first ship produced at the shop was a 65-foot steam yacht, Eleanor, built for his personal use. That same year he designed and constructed a 70-foot steam yacht for Charles Goddard Weld. In 1898 constructed a new shop on the same site.[1]

Automobiles

In 1900, Little began building automobiles.[1] From 1900 to 1903 he manufactured the "Little Steamer".[2] He also built a steam truck that was capable of reaching a speed of 35 miles per hour.[3]

War service

During the Spanish–American War, Little served as the quartermaster of the 2nd corps of cadets.[4][5] He was appointed an ordnance officer by Governor Roger Wolcott and was responsible for the distribution of all of Massachusetts' guns and ammunition.[5]

During World War I, Little entered the naval service as a lieutenant. He was quickly promoted to lieutenant commander and assigned to the Charlestown Navy Yard as a construction officer.[5] Little also served a chairman of the Salem Public Safety Committee.[6]

Political career

In 1896, Little was elected to replace the deceased Daniel B. Hagar on the Salem School Committee.[7] In 1898 he served on the board of aldermen. He returned to the school committee in 1899.[8] In 1900 he served as the Mayor of Salem. During his tenure, the city's bond debt was reduced by $60,000 and the tax rate was reduced by 60 cents per thousand. He also assisted in street paving by running a road roller. He operated the machine for 20 minutes because he wanted to see how it worked.[1]

On November 10, 1903, Little was nominated for the position of Collector of Customs for the Salem and Beverly District.[9] He held this position until the district was eliminated on July 1, 1913.[10]

Death

Little died on February 6, 1923, at Massachusetts General Hospital's Phillips House due to complications from surgery.[5]

References
  1. "David M. Little, Mechanical Genius, Salem". The Boston Daily Globe. May 4, 1902.
  2. Automobile Manufacturers Worldwide Registry. McFarlane & Company, Inc. 2000. p. 179. ISBN 9780786409723.
  3. Dowgin, Christopher Jon Luke (2017). Sub Rosa. Salem House Press. p. 221. ISBN 9780986261022.
  4. "Quartermaster of 2D Corps". The Boston Daily Globe. March 18, 1898.
  5. "David M. Little, 63, Salem Ex-Mayor Dies". The Boston Daily Globe. February 7, 1923.
  6. "Salem (Mass.) Public Safety Committee Records". Peabody Essex Museum. Retrieved October 12, 2017.
  7. Annual Reports of the Board of School Committee and Superintendent of Schools of the City of Salem. 1896. p. 7.
  8. Annual Reports of the Board of School Committee and Superintendent of Schools of the City of Salem. Salem, Mass. 1899. p. 5.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
  9. "To Collect Customs". The Boston Daily Globe. November 11, 1903.
  10. "Customs Plan Put Into Force". The Boston Daily Globe. March 5, 1913.
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