Bio: Lytle, Alfred D. (Commemorative Bio - 1895)

Poster: Crystal Wendt

Alfred D. Lytle

Alfred D. Lytle is at the present time engineer of the city waterworks of Merrill, Lincoln County, in which city he has made his home since the falls of 1881. Wisconsin claims him as one of her native sons, his birth having occurred October 19, 1853, in Stockton, Portage County.

His father, James E. Lytle, was born in Richmond, Va., in 1816, and little is known of the ancestors of our subject, save that the paternal grandfather was drowned when James E. was a mere boy. The latter went to New York, where he married Fannie Dymond, who was born there in 1818 to John and Mary Dymond. Her parents had both been previously married, having children by those unions, but Mrs. Lytle had but one own brother and two sisters; Royal, Miranda and Clara. James E. Lytle became an early settler of Plover, Portage Co., Wis., arriving there in 1834. Near that place he cleared and developed a farm, but now makes his home with his son Williams, at Stevens Point, Wis. He is a Republican in political sentiment; through he has taken no active part in politics. His wife crossed the dark river December 7, 1893. In their family were nine children, only four of whom survive: George H., Alfred D., William T., and John D. Frank died at the age of thirteen years; Maria at the age of nine; Sanford when six, Herman when two, and Horace in infancy.

Alfred D. Lytle, whose name introduces this record, was reared to agricultural pursuits, remaining on the home farm until he had attained his majority; although he had previously worked for others, being at the age of sixteen employed as a farm hand. His educational advantages were such as the district schools of the neighborhood afforded. At the age of twenty-one he became fireman in a sawmill, where he learned the trade of an engineer, which has been his chief occupation ever since. In the spring of 1876 he was given charge of an engine on the Wisconsin Central railroad; in the fall of 1881, he came to Merrill, being in the employ of the Merrill Boom Company, running the engine with which they drove piles. For two winters our subject worked in the lumber woods of Wisconsin, but most of his business life has been devoted to engineering.

At Spencer, Wis., in the spring of 1877, Mr. Lytle, was united in marriage with Sarah Ruth Nutting, a daughter of Edmond and Caroline Hopkins (Parmelee) Nutting. She was born in Pittsford, Rutland Co., Vt., in 1855, and is one of a family of eleven children, the others living being Lottie, Ella, Albertina and Frances, the rest having died in infancy. The father’s death occurred in 1871, and the mother later became the wife of C. C. Lyon, who died in 1886, by which union there is one child, Samuel  S.. To Mr. and Mrs. Lytle were born four children: Lottie Luella, Arthur Erwin, Berte Alford and Fred Delbert. Lottie and Fred died in infancy. Mr. Lytle is prominently indentified with the Republican Party, and for one year served as city marshal of Merrill. Since April, 1893, he has been engineer of the city waterworks, and is well qualified to fill that responsible position. Both in business circles and in private life he is honored and esteemed for his upright character. He is a man whose word can be relied upon, and whose promise is considered as good as his bond. Socially he is a member of Jennie Lodge, No. 31, I. O. O. F., and he belonged to the Brotherhood of Stationary Engineers of Wausau, No. 10.

---Source: Commemorative Biographical Record of the Upper Wisconsin Counties of Waupaca, Portage, Wood, Marathon, Lincoln, Oneida, Vilas, Langlade and Shawano. publ. 1895 by J. H. Beers & Co., Chicago 1110 pages, illustrated; Page 259-260