My Genealogy Hound

WILLIAM LYTLE. A commodious and attractive residence standing in the midst of fine forest trees is the home of William Lytle. It is located on the bank of Cedar creek in Toronto township, Woodson County, and in its neat and thrifty appearance the farm indicates the careful superintendence of a progressive owner.

A native of Randolph County, Indiana, Mr. Lytle was born November 6, 1845, a son of George and Mary (Toles) Lytle, both of whom were natives of Virginia. When young people his parents removed to Indiana and were married in that state, with whose history they were familiar at an early period in the development and improvement of that portion of the country. Mrs. Lytle died in Indiana, when sixty years of age, and Mr. Lytle, long surviving her, passed away at the age of seventy-four. They were the parents of ten children, William being the eighth in order of birth. With his parents he remained until eighteen years of age, and in the meantime he attended the common schools. He then went to Warren County, Iowa, where he worked in a brick yard for two years, and in 1868 he came to Kansas, settling in the southeastern part of Woodson County, where he homesteaded eighty acres of land, giving his attention to its improvement.

Having thus made preparations for a home of his own Mr. Lytle was united in marriage to Miss Mary Burger on the 17th of January, 1871, and found a faithful companion for life’s journey. She is a native of Iowa, an accomplished lady who came to Kansas with her brother, Dr. Burger, and for four years prior to her marriage she engaged in teaching school in Woodson County. They have never had any children,, but have lived happily together for thirty years, their mutual love and confidence increasing as the years have gone by.

After Mr. Lytle had secured his title to his homestead he sold the property and came to Toronto township, purchasing one hundred and sixty acres of land where he now resides, seven miles northeast of Toronto on Cedar creek, where he has made a good home, his beautiful residence proving one of the most charming features in the landscape. He was at one time quite extensively engaged in the stock business, but failing health in later years has prevented him from handling the large number of cattle which annually claimed his attention at an earlier period. In 1896 he was elected county commissioner and served in that capacity for three years as a capable and trustworthy officer. He has also served as clerk of Perry township. Starting out in life for himself when a boy of eighteen years, dependent entirely upon his own resources, he has labored energetically and persistently and has always been enabled to provide his wife with a good home and surrounds her now with all the comforts and many of the luxuries of life. His has been an honorable success, and today he is one of the highly respected citizens of his adopted county.