Francis M. Kyte (1839 - 1908)

KYTE, KEY, TIPPITS

Posted By: Barry Mateer (email)
Date: 11/16/2021 at 19:58:48

The Osceola Sentinel , Osceola, Iowa
June 11, 1908 page 1

Francis M. Kyte, one of Clarke county's best known citizens died very suddenly at his home in this city Tuesday evening about 10 o'clock. He had been in failing health for more than a year but at times felt fairly well. He had been up town yesterday and was feeling as well as usual, and was sick but five hours, death resulting from heart disease.

Mr. Kyte was born in Indiana March 4,1839, and was one of a large family of children, eight sons and three daughters. His father died in 1851 and the next year the widowed mother, with her children, some of whom were grown, came to Clarke county where he has ever since resided. In July, 1861, he enlisted in defense of his country and served thru the war in Co. F. Sixth Iowa Inf., being promoted to the position of first lieutenant in the latter part of the war serving as such until mustered out in July of 1865.
He was at the battle of Shiloh, the siege of Corinth, Mission Ridge and Atlanta campaigns, and on to Savannah, Rolla and Bentonville.

After the war be returned to Osceola, attended Bryant & Stratton's Commercial college, and later taught school two years.
He was elected auditor of this county in 1869 and served until ’74. For the next four years he was in the grocery business and then was again chosen auditor, serving seven terms. He next served a term in legislature as representative from this district and was census director for the Eighth district in 1900. In 1902 he was again chosen auditor, serving two terms.
He held tbe record, we understand, for length of service as a county official in Clarke county and the public never had a more faithful or efficient servant.

He was married in August of 1803 to Nancy L. Key of this county, and to this union were born four children, Charles, Laura, George and Helen. Laura, the elder daughter, preceded her father and her little son, Eugene Tippits, has been a member of Mr. Kyte’s household for a number of years.
Charles is a resident of Giddes, S.D., George is at present with Mr. Tippits in the management of the Forest Park at Kansas City. Both sons were at once notified and will be here today. The funeral will probably be held tomorrow.

Frank Kyte was a man of noble mind and heart. Thru long activities in politics he made some enemies, but he never became embittered toward them and was inclined to take their shafts of
calumny as a joke. He was a painstaking and thorough public official and affable and pleasant always and everywhere. In private and in public life he was above any taint of suspicion of motive or act. He was ever public spirited and liberal and leaves behind him a circle of personal friends that includes the large majority of the residents of Clarke county and a host of others.

His lonely companion of forty years and the children who, have lost a tender and loving husband and father, have the sympathy of a community in which every individual feels a share in the loss.

photo of gravestone Findagrave
 

Clarke Obituaries maintained by Brenda White.
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