Miss Watkins was born in the little town of Mendham, N.J., July 10,
1842. She came to California in 1859 and to Oakland on the day before
Christmas. The following year she was engaged to sing soprano in the
First Presbyterian church. After two and one-half years there she went
to Calvary Church where she sang for another two and a half years and
then went to the Unitarian Church, where Rev. Dr. Stebbins preached.
In 1864 she was married to William C. Little.
Geo. F. Pettinos was organist in the First Presbyterian Church; Mr.
Anderson was tenor, Emily King, now Mrs. K.S. Latham, contralto, and
Mrs. Blake-Alverson contralto.
The choir in Calvary Church: Organist, Gustave Scott; large choir with
quartette, Washington Elliott, leader.
Choir Unitarian Church: Rudolph Herold, organist; Mr. Wunderlich,
superb basso; Mr. Mitchell, tenor; Miss Fisher, alto; Mrs. Little,
soprano.
She was much interested in the oratorio society, Handel and Haydn, in
which she took part in Oakland, and was soprano at St. John's Church,
following Mrs. Shipman.
When Dr. Eells came to the First Presbyterian Church in Oakland she
had charge of the choir and was the soprano. She raised about $1500
toward the purchase of an organ for the church. She took part in solos
when Creation was given there.
When Hattie Crocker Alexander presented the First Congregational
Church of San Francisco with a large organ, Mrs. Watkins raised money
and purchased the original organ for Plymouth Church of Oakland and it
is now in use in that church. The first choir was as follows: Emily
King, contralto; Mr. Anderson, tenor; Sallie Little, soprano; George
Pettinos, organist.
After two and a half years she went to Calvary Church. Mr. Elliott was
leader of the choir and Gustave Scott, organist; Dr. Wadsworth,
pastor. Mrs. Little now lives in Oakland with her daughter, who is
also a gifted singer and a teacher of voice.