Colonel Clarence Belden “C.B.” Little was a prominent businessman, banker, lawyer, judge, and political figure in Bismarck’s early history. To most, he is probably best known for building the historic mansion on the northwest corner of Washington Street and Avenue A, which is today owned by the Catholic Diocese.
Little held many prominent roles and acquired a fortune during his lifetime. Having attended Harvard Law School, he was a politician, lawyer, and judge, but it was in the banking industry where he made his fortune. Little got his foothold in this industry in 1884, one year after arriving in Bismarck, when he befriended Richard B. Mellon – a local banker who later became one of the founders of the famous Mellon banking legacy. Little became director of Capital National Bank and later purchased controlling interest in First National Bank. He merged the two banks. Little was later president of the highly successful Provident Life Insurance Company, which he helped establish.
Little was born in Pembroke, New Hampshire on November 18, 1857. He was married twice, first to Caroline Little in Boston on November 24, 1885, who died in 1933. Five years later, Little married again, to Irene Shepard. Little had two children, George and Viroque.
