Francis M. Kyte

FRANCIS M. KYTE, auditor of Clarke County, Iowa, is a native of the State of Indiana, born in Washington County, near Salem, March 4, 1839, a son of Lewis and Catherine (Colglazier) Kyte, natives of Ohio, and early settlers of Indiana, where the father died in 1851. His mother is still living in Clarke County, Iowa, at the advanced age of ninety-four years. Her family consisted of eight sons and three daughters, all but one of whom lived till maturity, the eldest one now living being seventy-one years old.  F.M. Kyte passed his boyhood on a farm in his native county, living there until after the death of his father, when he was thirteen years old. In the fall of 1852 his mother removed with her family to Iowa, and located in Clarke County, where he passed his youth and early manhood.  In July 1861, he enlisted in the defense of the Union, and was assigned to company F, Sixth Iowa Infantry, and served as Sergeant until January, 1864, when he re-enlisted and was promoted to First Lieutenant, serving as such until mustered out in July, 1865. He participated in the battle at Shiloh, the siege of Corinth, Mission Ridge, the Atlanta campaign, and in the march to Savannah, then back to Rolla and Bentonville.  After the war he returned to Osceola and attended Bryant & Stratton’s business college, and then taught school two years. He was elected auditor of Clarke County in the fall of 1869, and served until January, 1874. The next four years he engaged in the grocery business, when he was again elected county auditor, assuming the duties of his office in January, 1878, and has served to the present time, having proved himself to be a reliable and efficient public servant.  Mr. Kyte was married in August, 1868, to Miss Nancy L. Key, daughter of Nathan Key, of Clarke County. They have a family of three children – Charles, Laura and George. Mr. Kyte is a member of the Masonic fraternity, Lodge No. 77, Chapter No. 63, and Commandery No. 21. Also of the Knights of Pythias.

SOURCE: Biographical and Historical Record of Clarke County, Iowa, Lewis Publishing Company, Chicago, Illinois, 1886 p. 254-7