Stone Gardens: Sebastian County native John Sebastian Little served n law and politics before mental breakdown
- Dennis McCaslin
- Apr 25
- 2 min read
John Sebastian "Bass" Little was an Arkansas politician who served as a U.S. Representative and the 21st Governor of Arkansas. His career in law and politics was cut short by a mental health crisis that led to his resignation and eventual death.
Born in Jenny Lind, Sebastian County, John Sebastian Little was the son of Jesse Eaton Little, a farmer, and Mary Elizabeth Tatum. He was the grandson of Eaton Tatum and Charlotte Bruer Reynolds Tatum, part of a family rooted in Arkansas’s frontier.
Little grew up in a modest household, shaped by the rural life of western Arkansas. His early education was limited; he attended Cane Hill College in Washington County for one term, likely due to financial constraints or family needs.
On January 4, 1877, Little married Elizabeth Jane Irwin in Paris. The couple had five children: two sons, Paul and John Sebastian Jr., and three daughters, Ruth, Mabel, and Bessie.
Elizabeth provided stability as Little pursued his demanding career, though little is documented about their family life beyond public records. The family primarily resided in Greenwood, near Little’s birthplace, and later in Little Rock during his political tenure.
Little taught school while studying law, gaining admission to the Arkansas bar in 1873. In 1876, he was elected prosecuting attorney for the 12th Judicial District, serving until 1882. He entered the Arkansas House of Representatives in 1884 and was appointed judge of the Twelfth Judicial Circuit in 1886, serving four years.
In 1894, Little was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives for Arkansas’s 2nd district, filling Clifton R. Breckinridge’s unexpired term. He served until 1907, later representing the 4th district. Elected as the Democratic nominee for governor in 1906, he was inaugurated in January 1907.
Shortly after taking office, Little suffered a nervous breakdown, likely exacerbated by the stress of his new role. Unable to perform his duties, he resigned on May 7, 1907, and was succeeded by John Isaac Moore, the state senate president.
Little sought recovery on the Texas Gulf Coast, possibly in Galveston, hoping the change would restore his health. His condition did not improve, and he returned to Arkansas, where he was admitted to the Arkansas State Hospital for Nervous Disorders in Little Rock.
On October 29, 1916, Little died in the Arkansas State Hospital at age 65. The cause of death was likely related to his prolonged mental and physical decline, though specific medical details are not well-documented due to the era’s limited understanding of mental health.
His death was noted in local papers, such as the Arkansas Gazette, which expressed sympathy for his family and acknowledged his contributions to the state.
Little was laid to rest at the City Cemetery in Greenwood, Sebastian County, near his childhood home in Jenny Lind. His grave, marked by a simple headstone, remains a point of local historical interest.
Elizabeth outlived him, passing away in 1928, and is buried beside him.
Several of their children remained in Arkansas, with descendants still tied to the region, according to local genealogical records.
