Warwick near Watford in Lambton County, Ontario — Central Canada (North America)
Joseph Russel Little 1812-1880
Photographed by Tim Boyd, May 12, 2025
1. Joseph Russel Little 1812-1880 Marker
Inscription.
Joseph Little came to Warwick Township from Ireland in 1833 to manage the estate of a large landowner. The poverty of many pioneers so shocked him that, indifferent to his own comfort, he gradually gave away his savings wages, clothing even his employers' profits, to those in need. A fervent adherent of Wesleyan Methodism, Little had a natural ability in leading song and prayer. As an itinerant lay preacher, he helped establish many Methodist congregations in Lambton County and, after 1871, in backwoods communities in eastern Ontario. When friends of “Uncle Joe" heard of his death on Anticosti Island, they collected money to have him returned to Warwick for burial. His grave is in the cemetery just south of here.,
Joseph Little came to Warwick Township from Ireland in 1833 to manage the estate of a large landowner. The poverty of many pioneers so shocked him that, indifferent to his own comfort, he gradually gave away his savings wages, clothing even his employers' profits, to those in need. A fervent adherent of Wesleyan Methodism, Little had a natural ability in leading song and prayer. As an itinerant lay preacher, he helped establish many Methodist congregations in Lambton County and, after 1871, in backwoods communities in eastern Ontario. When friends of “Uncle Joe" heard of his death on Anticosti Island, they collected money to have him returned to Warwick for burial. His grave is in the cemetery just south of here.
Joseph Little arrive d'Irlande dans le canton de Warwick en 1833 pour gérer les terres d’un riche proprietaire. L'indigence de nombreux pionniers le choque si profondement qu’il leur distribue peu à peu ses épargnes, ses vêtements et même les profits de son employeur. Pervent adepte du méthodisme wesleyen, Little a un talent naturel pour diriger le chant et la prière. Pendant ses tournées de prédicateur laïc, il contribue à l'établissement de plusieurs paroisses méthodistes dans le comté de Lambton et après 1871 dans des communautés isolées de l'est de l'Ontario. Lorsque les amis d’«Oncle Joe» apprennent sa mort à l'ile d'Anticosti, ils font une quête pour le ramener à Warwick et l'enterrer au cimetière un peu au sud d’ici.
Location. 42° 59.826′ N, 81° 56.847′ W. Marker is near Watford, Ontario, in Lambton County. It is in Warwick. It is on Warwick Village Road 0.4 kilometers south of London Line, on the left when traveling south. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 6101 Warwick Village Road, Watford ON N0M 2S0, Canada. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker is in the Southwest Ontario Area and in Southwestern Ontario. It is also in Central Canada. Globally, it is in North America, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once a British colony, the Viceroyalty of New France, the Haudenosaunee (Iroquois) Confederacy, and Rupert’s Land.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 21 kilometers of this marker, measured
Photographed by Tim Boyd, May 12, 2025
2. Joseph Russel Little 1812-1880 Marker (français)
Little's wandering sermons and visits were fondly remembered by the Lambton families he touched during his travels. In her article "Monument Recalls Circuit Rider," Margaret Blais recalled the following story from her great-aunt Susan Howland: "Aunt Susan remembers when she was a little girl that he would often visit their home. Long before he reached their house they could hear his great Irish voice rollicking hymns. He would twirl his hat in the air and then greet them with a good Irish greeting. 'The top of the morning to you!'"
(Submitted on May 19, 2025, by Tim Boyd of Hamilton, Ontario.)
circa 1870s
3. Joseph Russel Little ca 1870s
Source: Lambton County Museum
Photographed by Tim Boyd, May 12, 2025
4. Joseph Russel Little 1812-1880 Marker
Looking north on Warwick Village Road
Credits. This page was last revised on July 16, 2025. It was originally submitted on May 19, 2025, by Tim Boyd of Hamilton, Ontario. This page has been viewed 139 times since then and 23 times this year. Photos:1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on May 19, 2025, by Tim Boyd of Hamilton, Ontario. • Andrew Ruppenstein was the editor who published this page.
