Jesse Carter Little

Jesse Carter Little (September 26, 1815 – December 26, 1893) was a Mormon pioneer and a member of the presiding bishopric of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church).

Little was born in Belmont, Maine.

In 1845, Little was taught by Latter Day Saint missionary Eli P. Maginn; he was baptized into the LDS Church and in 1846 was made a president of the church's missions in the eastern United States.

In 1846, Little met with United States President James K. Polk and former Post Master General, Amos Kendall asking for help for the emigrating members of the LDS church to the west. During this time, Little was advised by Thomas L. Kane, a Pennsylvania lawyer. Shortly after arriving in Salt Lake City, Little returned to the eastern United States and continued to act as a mission president. Little's tenure as mission president ended in 1852, and he moved to Utah Territory.

In Salt Lake City he served as an attorney, sexton, marshal, tax appraiser, military officer and fire chief. From 1855 to 1859, he served four terms in the House of Representatives of the Utah Territorial Legislature.

On October 6, 1856, Little became the second counselor to the presiding bishop of the LDS Church, Edward Hunter. Little acted in this capacity until his resignation in the summer of 1874; he was eventually replaced in the presiding bishopric by Robert T. Burton.

In the 1880s, Little corresponded extensively with Samuel Brannan in an effort to promote a colony and mining enterprise Brannan sought to establish in Sonora, Mexico.

Little moved to Morgan County, Utah, and lived in Littleton, a town that was named after him which he had helped establish. He died in Salt Lake City, Utah Territory, and was buried at Salt Lake City Cemetery.

Like many early members of the LDS Church, Little practiced plural marriage. He had three wives and 27 children.