John Wesley Little - The Artist From Picture Rocks

Between Showers, by J. Wesley Little

If you are shopping our local flea markets, estate sales, and thrift stores, check those watercolor paintings for the signature of J. Wesley Little.  Not only are his watercolors valued at between $300 and $600, but he was a local boy, from Picture Rocks.  A large collection of his paintings are owned by Bucknell University - as Little paid his children's college tuition in paintings, rather than in cash.

  

John Wesley Little came to Picture Rocks from Forksville Pa, as a young child.  His father, John Polhemus Little, established a wood manufacturing business in the town.

Born in 1867, he was a twin, and the youngest of nine children.   His twin died while fighting in the civil war.

Old Rover by J. Wesley Little

In the collection of the Samek Art Museum at Bucknell University

In 1884 John entered a pencil sketch for a dog titled "Old Rover" in a local art contest.  Encouraged by friends, he then went to the  National Academy of Design in New York.  He studied there  for 6 years, from 1888-1894.

Pennsylvania Canal between Lewisburg and Montandon

Canal with towpath by John Wesley Little [Picture Rocks, PA]

1898

Little's grandfather, Theopholis Little, was a revolutionary war soldier who purchased tracts of land in Sullivan County, and was instrumental in the development of Eagles Mere. It was there, by Lewis Lake, that J. Wesley Little taught art classes at the Eagles mere Chautauqua Association, for five summers.  Classes cost $2.50 per a week. During the winter months  he painted watercolors based on sketches me made throughout the year.

In 1899 Little traveled to France to paint and travel, returning in time to teach classes in Eaglesmere that summer. He made a second trip abroad years later.

After marrying Susan Heim, the couple settled in Fort Washington Pa, near enough to Philadelphia for Little to join the Sketch and Water Color Clubs of Philadelphia.

A John Wesley Little Watercolor Landscape

Hanging in the Taber Museum, Williamsport Pa

Little studied under the direction of such prolific artiss as Thomas Eakin and Leonard Ochtman, and was greatly influenced English landscape artist Sir Alfred East.


Little's art often featured pastoral scenes depicting herds of sheep  and cattle, reflecting the natural beauty of his native Pennsylvania. His work was exhibited at the St. Louis and Panama-Pacific Expositions, and before the American Water Color Society in New York.  

https://m.skinnerinc.com/search?s=John+Wesley+Little

In 1901 he was awarded the silver medal of the American Art Society. That same year, his paintings were on display at Bucknell University in Lewisburg.  Little and his wife had three children , all of whom graduated from Bucknell.  Their father paid their tuition in paintings, rather than in cash.

Downtown Lewisburg by J. Wesley Little

In 1905, Little moved his family back to his hometown of Picture Rocks, where he lived until his death in 1923.

Little died in Picture Rocks in September of 1923, at the age of 57.  

His obituary read, in part:
"J. Wesley Little was one of the best known native Pennsylvania Artists.  He was born in Sullivan County and studied in France.  In his particular medium, that of water color, he developed an individual technique which won him favorable recognition wherever he exhibited, and he was awarded medals and honors at exhibitions.
His best known works are Pennsylvania pastoral scenes and landscapes, painted in the West Branch and Muncy Creek valleys near his home."

Where To See His Work:

• The Taber House Museum in Williamsport 
• Trinity Episcopal Church  in Williamsport has a mural based on a sketch by J. Wesley Little.  Little had designed the mural, but died before it was completed.  The project was finished by S.R. Hartman.
• Samek Art Gallery, Bucknell.  (Displays change frequently, but their Little collection can be found online here - https://library.artstor.org/#/search/Wesley%20Little;page=1;size=48)
• East Lycoming Historical Society, Hughesville Pa - owns 2 paintings
• Keep scrolling, I have a bunch of photos of his work at the bottom of this post.

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On the Sesquicentennial Walking Tour, 2025

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1BjxAjR6Yx/

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There is an out of print book on the life of John Wesley Little, published in 1966

John Wesley Little 1867-1933 Biography of an Artist 

https://amzn.to/31EK7Ex

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Source: John Wesley Little, A Paper

 by James Wright Little.

John Wesley Little, a renowned Pennsylvania artist, and the youngest child of John Polhemus Little and Martha Hallock Edkin, was born in 1867 near Forksville in Sullivan County, PA. John Polhemus was the sixth son of Theophilus Little, Jr., and Elizabeth Holmes and a twin to Josiah Little, a Civil War casualty. While John Wesley was still a young child, his father moved to Picture Rocks, PA and established a wood manufacturing business which produced ladders, bows for covered wagons, sleigh runners and other bent wood products. Best known as "Wesley" the young John was introduced to the world of labor when he worked in the commissary (employee lunch room) at the factory for which his father paid him the princely sum of 12 1/2 cents per hour.

By 1884, he had established an interest in art for he entered a pencil sketch for a dog titled "Old Rover" in a local contest. Encouraged by friends, he went to New York in 1888 and stayed with family friends while he studied at the The National Academy of Design. His formal education ended eight years later in 1896.

The next five summers were spent near Lewis Lake, Sullivan County, where Wesley taught budding artists at the Eaglesmere Chautauqua Association for $2.50 per week. During the winter, he painted watercolors from sketches he made at earlier dates. It was during this period that he met Dr. William C. Martin who was to later become his friend and mentor.

In 1899, at the invitation of Academy school chum Harry M. Walcott, he went to Paris and indulged in extensive travel on the continent, returning in time to teach the summer season at Eaglesmere. The rolling stone gathers no moss and he was soon 'discovered' by art buyers in Philadelphia and Williamsport. The notoriety, coupled with prosperity, enabled him to return to Paris the following year where he also traveled to Brussels and Venice. Returing home he met his future bride, Miss Susan Heim, at the Williamsport Railroad Station. They were married in December of the same year after a whirlwind courtship.

Wesley and his bride first lived in Fort Washington, PA , which enabled him to join the Sketch Club and Water Color Club of Philadelphia, memberships he enjoyed the rest of his life. The following five years found Wesley showing his work at many prominent art exhibits from St. Louis to South America. He made one more trip to Europe and England before moving his family in 1905 to Picture Rocks. It is here that he remodeled an old barn into a studio.

** Editor's Note: In August 2007, Susan McReadie of Chester County, PA, reported an incredible discovery likely traceable to the period before 1905 when the artist lived in the Philadelphia environs. She found an old, damaged painting. Here is her story:

A little over a year ago, an older woman in the area gave me a plastic bin (acutally one of those bins for recyclables) full of pieces of stained glass. Some of these she had been given long ago and others she collected. She hadn't used the materials in years herself and the bin was sitting in her gargage. I'm sorry to say that along with the glass, the bin contained some old recyclables and lots of straw, but remarkably, at the bottom, was this painting [shown below]. I loved the sheep, but realized the painting was pretty much a goner, so I'd set it up on my work bench in the basement to admire while working on my glass projects. About a month ago I was toying with my genealogy research (Googleing about on the internet) and I thought to read the name on the painting and see if I could find out anything about the artist. I think the fact that I was looking for my own family history drove me to want to return this to one of Mr. Little's family members. Someone who might care for it and appreciate it inspite of it's wounds. I therefore e-mailed Bob Sweeney at the Sullivan County Genealogical Page for help.

Coincidentally, at the same time, Bob Sweeney was visiting the Sullivan County Museum and Historical Society in Laporte and asked if there were a Little relative who might want the painting. Who should be there that very day but Nnancy Spencer, a Little relative, who entusiastically agreed to give the painting a home. The happy ending is that Bob informed Susan and Susan carefully mailed the painting to Nancy in Sullivan county. A photo of the picture and the painter's signature are at the bottom of this page. A few years later, by 2009, Nancy had conserved this photo and an enhanced version is also shown below. Now back to our story.....

Their first home was a 50-acre farm where Wesley supported his artistic talents and family with income from farming. The farm was successful, and in 1911 he moved the family into a house in Picture Rocks proper, located on the corner of Center and Water Streets. There, encouraged by buyers, he continued to paint.

During this time, he was very active in his community, first forming a reading circle as there was no local library. He was instrumental in getting a road built and bridge across Muncy Creek to Ardenwood. He also served as Burgess (Mayor) of Picture Rocks at one time.

In 1915, he traveled extensively in California, exhibiting his work and winning a Silver Medal at the San Francisco Exhibition for work he had done in England ten years earlier. He then went to South Dakota under contract to a rancher to produce three paintings. He was paid $500 and train fare.

Wesley and Susan had three children who all graduated from Bucknell University in Lewisburg, PA, due to in part to their father's talents. He paid for their tuition with paintings in lieu of cash. All had distinguished careers and went on to obtain the Master or Doctorate degrees in finance, statistics, and administration.

However, it is to their daughter Jean that the Little family owes much for her "dedicated perseverance in preserving our (Little) family history" as we know it today.

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Little's Former Studio in Picture Rocks is now a privately owned home - with a facebook page

https://www.facebook.com/p/The-JW-Little-Studio-100062997561885/

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Willows

 two cows among the trees

trees and river

trees and a pond

trees

stream with trees 

the play house

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In 2006, there was an exhbit of Little's work at the Packwood House Museum

The Museum no longer exists.  More about it here:

https://susquehannavalley.blogspot.com/2022/11/from-tavern-to-museum-history-of.html

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Mrs. John Wesley Little

Susan [Heim] Little 1873-1965

Mrs. Susan Little, 91, Pioneer Family Member Mrs. Susan Heim Little, 91, Williamsport, descendant of pioneer settlers in Bloominggrove Valley, and secretary of the Muncy Normal' Alumni Association, died Tuesday in Williamsport Hospital. She was the widow of the noted artist, J. Wesley Little, Picture Rocks, who died in 1923.

Mrs. Little was born in Warrensville, daughter of Christian and Elizabeth Grove Heim. She graduated from Muncy Normal School in 1893, and taught school until her marriage. For many years she headed arrangements for the annual reunion of graduates of the Normal School. She was one of the original proponets of the Women's Suffrage movement in Lycoming County and was active in politics until her health failed.

Her German forebearers settled the Bloominggrove Valley north of the early 1800's, first to migrate there. Two daughters, a son, four grandchildren and six great-grandchildren survive.

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https://susquehannavalley.blogspot.com/p/history.html