Fred F. Lytle

JOHNSON, LYTLE, MILLER, PORTER, ROBERTS, SHINN, SLINKER

Posted By: Judy Wight Branson (email)
Date: 10/19/2004 at 14:20:38

Fred F. Lytle, one of the successful farmers of Ohio township, was born on the 24th of July, 1874, at St. Charles, Iowa, a son of James M. and Malissa J. (Porter) Lytle. The father, a native of Ohio and a carpenter by trade, came to Madison county in 1883 and located at St. Charles, where he followed his trade for a short time. Before the end of the year, however, he removed to Des Moines, where he is still a successful carpenter and contractor He resides at No. 913 East Washington street and has many warm friends. His first wife died shortly after their removal to that city on the 18th of May, 1883, and he subsequently married Miss Ina Miller. To his first union were born the following children: Walter B., a farmer living at Carson, Iowa, who married Miss Myrtle Shinn; Fred F.; Ralph P., of Chicago; William, a farmer living near Winterset, who married Miss Ella Johnson; and Nellie, who died at the age of eighteen months.

Fred F. Lytle attended school at St. Charles until he was nine years of age and then removed with his parents to Des Moines, where he continued his education. When but fourteen years of age he started out upon his own account, working as a hired hand on a farm near Newton, Iowa, until he was twenty-two years of age. In 1896 he came to Ohio township, this county, and was in the employ of others for four years. At the end of that time he purchased his present farm and the following year took up his residence thereon. He owns eighty-four and a half acres of well improved land on section 4, Ohio township, and is meeting with success in general farming and stock-raising. He feeds a large number of cattle and hogs annually, which he sells to shippers.

On the 19th of December, 1899, at St. Charles, was solemnized the marriage of Mr. Lytle and Miss Carrie Myrtle Roberts, a daughter of Wesley and Mary Madaline (Johnson) Roberts. The father, who was born in Pennsylvania, of Irish descent, followed the occupation of farming and in 1866 came to Madison county, settling on Clanton creek in South township. He purchased one hundred and twenty acres of land and resided there until nineteen years ago, when he sold out and removed to the vicinity of St. Charles, where he bought land and lived for eleven years, after which he sold his farm and took up his residence in St Charles. There he was living at the time of his death, which occurred on the 16th of March, 1910. His wife, who is still living in St. Charles, was born in Franklin county, Indiana, on the 5th of March, 1850, and they were married in St. Charles, Iowa, on the 18th of February, 1869. In their family were seven children: Walter M , who was born January 15, 1870, and is now deceased; Cora D., born November 17, 1873, who married Eustace Slinker; Carrie Myrtle, who was born on the 22d day of July, 1875; Lucy Elizabeth, who was born January 15, 1879, and has passed away; Nettie, who was born September 23, 1881, and is also deceased; and Clyde and Harry, twins, whose natal day was the 8th of October, 1884. Clyde is deceased and Harry is residing near St. Charles. Mr. Roberts was a veteran of the Civil war, having served for almost three years as a private in Company B, Twenty-second Regiment, Iowa Volunteer Infantry. He enlisted on the 12th of August, 1862, and was mustered out and honorably discharged on the 1st of May, 1865. He saw a great deal of fighting, went through the siege of Vicksburg and participated in a number of battles.

To Mr. and Mrs. Lytle have been born the following children: Forrest Leland, whose birth occurred on the 11th of November, 1900, and who died on the 12th of November, 1904; Jennie Faye, who was born February 10, 1904, and is attending the Truro high school; Lyle Raymond, who was born on the 8th of October, 1907, and is in school; Wendell Roberts, born July 26, 1909; and Helen Maxine, whose birth occurred on the 19th of December, 1913.

Mr. Lytle is a republican in politics and is now serving his first term as treasurer of Ohio township. Both he and his wife hold membership in the Methodist Episcopal church at Truro and she is also affiliated with the Ladies Aid society of that congregation. She likewise belongs to the Order of the Eastern Star at St. Charles. Mr. Lytle deserves great credit for the success which he has achieved in his chosen occupation, as he began providing for his own support when but fourteen years of age and has been dependent upon his own resources since that time. The self-reliance and determination which he has developed command the respect of those who know him and his agreeable social traits have won him the friendship of many.

Taken from the book, “The History of Madison County, Iowa, 1915”