Later edited by LaNora Littlejohn in 1994
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Later edited by LaNora Littlejohn in 1994
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Fredrick Russell Littlejohn was born July 18,1902 at Boomer, Fayette County, West Virginia. He married Emily Nutter, daughter of Odis Nutter and Nora White Nutter of Boomer, at the Methodist parsonage in Montgomery, West Virginia on November 30, 1925. Frederick Russell worked as a master mechanic for the Cannelton Coal & Coke Co. in Cannelton, WV, and was in charge of the outside equipment and was considered an expert at his job. Fredrick Russell (Russ) and Emily had four children. He died December 2, 1966 after a long illness and is buried at London, West Virginia. Emily now resides in a nursing home in Anstead, WV.
Unfortunately my grandfather, Russ, died before I was born. However, through the rich memories that he left with his children, I have enjoyed hours or wonderful stories of my grandfather. My aunt Gin has often expressed what a loving father Russ had been to her. Apparently he was quite the character also. One of my favorite stories is when Russ inherited his German Shepard, Gene. Gene had been trained as a police dog and was thought to be quite dangerous. Gene was formally owned by a local police officer who had called Russ to fix something at his home. In order to do the house maintenance, Gene had to get underneath the policeman's house. Unbeknown to Russ, the dog was also under the house and began growling at Russ. Russ talked to the dog, using a calm voice and soon the dog realized Russ was not a threat and let him finish his work. When Russ finished his work, he and the dog crawled out from beneath the house. When the policeman saw that the dog was under the house with Russ, he was shocked that the dog had not attacked Russ. Apparently Gene had attacked many people, including his owner. Since Russ had easily tamed the dog, the policeman gave Gene to Russ. Gene became part of the Littlejohn family and even helped Gin learn to walk. Although Gene was gentle with Russ, Emily and all the children he could still be know to strike fear into unwelcome strangers. Above is a picture of my grandfather, Russ with his dog Gene.
A brief history of Russell's children
Emily Virginia Littlejohn Perkins (Gin), born February 1927 in Cannelton, WV, was the oldest child. She married Gordon Perkins and resides in Catlett, Virginia. She has one daughter, Susy Mabe, born in March, 1959, from her first marriage. Gordon had three sons from a previous marriage, Lindsey, Robert, and Doug Perkins.
Lenora Ruth Littlejohn Evans (Ruth), was born November 1929 in Cannelton, WV. She resides outside of Myrtle Beach, SC. Ruth has two sons, Billy and Doug Lanham.
Gerald Fredrick Littlejohn was born July 1931 in Cannelton, West Virginia. He is presently married and living in Taft, TN. He has five children from a former marriage to Barbara Batton; Debra Ann, Rick, Thomas Jeffery, Sandra, and Steven.
Thomas Eugene Littlejohn was born February 15, 1938 in Cannelton, West Virginia. He resides in Summersville, WV and is married to Deloris Lane. He had four children, LuCinda, MarLinda, Thomas Eugene and LaNora, from a previous marriage to Mar Sue Frogge. Gerald Frederick and Thomas Eugene both served with the US Navy. Gerald was on board the ship that picked up the first astronauts in the Pacific. Thomas Eugene served on the Midway and Gerald served on the Ticonderoga.
More about Frederick and Julia Littlejohn's Children
Lewis Preston Littlejohn was born July 24, 1905 in Boomer, West Virginia. Lewis worked for the Cannelton Coal & Coke Co. as an electrician and mechanic. While attending high school in Logan, Ohio, he worked at various jobs to be of help to his Grandmother Littlejohn, with whom he lived. He operated projectors at a theater, learned to be a barber, and served as janitor at a local church. He was an excellent baseball player and a boxer. He was accidentally killed while changing a 4400-volt pore line at Cannelton, West Virginia, on April 13, 1930 at the age of 25. He is buried in the Craig Cemetery at Alloy, West Virginia. Before his death he married Grace Marie Nunley on July 4, 1924 at Boncar (Alloy), WV. They had one daughter, Katherine Louise, who was born in July, 1925, in Harewood, West Virginia. Katherine married Ralph Wilson and has several children. She and her husband live in Clearwater, Florida. Grace died around 1946; the exact date is unknown.
Mary Hannah Littlejohn Higginbothan Alexander was born September 7, 1917 at San Toy, Ohio. She married Albert Higginbotham in 1935 and they had on son, David Lewis Higginbotham, born January 12, 1936, in Charleston, West Virginia. Mary Hannah and Albert were divorced in 1960. On August 4, 1961, she married Vernon C. Alexander, a life long resident of Coatesville, Pennsylvania. His lifetime job was with the Engineering department of the City of Coatesville until his retirement. Vernon was born March 29, 1912 and died February 17, 1985 at the age of 73. Mary Hannah still resides in Coatesville, Pennsylvania. David Lewis Higginbotham married Joyce Styer on December 20, 1958, and to this marriage was born seven children. Deborah Louis, born July 1, 1960, married Vernon Senseneg on April 21, 1978, and they had two children. They presently reside in New Holland Pennsylvania. Gwendolyn Marie, born November 4, 1963, is married and has a daughter, and presently resides in the Coatesville area. Valerie Lynn, born November 1963, presently resides in Ephrata, Pennsylvania. Julia Alice, born January 23, 1965, is married and has two children, a boy and a girl, and presently resides in Sadisburyville, Pennsylvania. Sherri Lee, born December 16, 1966, lives with her mother in Ephrata, Pennsylvania. David Lewis, born March 13,1968 and Donna Jean, Born April 13, 1969, presently live in Oxford Pennsylvania with foster parents. David Lewis (Corky) and Joyce are divorced and he resides in Sadisburyville, Pennsylvania. He was employed by the Lukens Steel Co. in Coatesville, Pennsylvania for over 20 years and is presently on disability retirement from that company due to a heart condition.
