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biography from Portrait & Biographical Album of Mahaska Co., Iowa, 1887
JOHN G. LYTLE, a leading farmer and stock- grower of White Oak Township, was born in Garfield Township, this county, April 2, 1862, and is the son of John S. and Rebecca (Dawson) Lytle. His father was born in Ohio, and came to Oskaloosa about the year 1849. He was a carpenter and builder by trade. He was a man or genuine merit, and took an active part in the support of all enterprises, which, in his judgment, would tend to advance the general welfare of the people with whom he was associated. In a word, his principal aim in life seemed to be that which would result in the greatest good to the greatest number. During the late war Mr. Lytle enlisted, Aug. 12, 1861, in Co. H, 8th Iowa Vol. Inf., and was elected Third Sergeant of his company. He was promoted Second Sergeant Nov. 1, 1861, Sergeant Major of the regiment in March, 1862, and Second Lieutenant April 4, 1863. During the battle of Shiloh, April 6, 1862, he was captured by the rebels and held a prisoner six months. After returning to his regiment, he was promoted First Lieutenant of his company, July 26, 1864, and January 7 following, was commissioned Captain. On Sept. 1, 1865, he was discharged for disability incurred in the service, and came to his home in Oskaloosa, where he died Nov. 20, 1865. Perhaps the greatest tribute of respect to the memory of John S. Lytle is this: He was not really able, physically, to endure the hardships and privations of soldier life in camp and field, yet the life of the nation was threatened, and he stopped only to consider that and without hesitation offered himself as a sacrifice, to do what he could for his country. He stayed with his command most heroically during all its eventful career, until the close of the struggle in 1865, returning home to die just as the white-winged messenger of peace had spread its wings again over the land. The subject of this sketch, John G. Lytle, was married, Feb. 12, 1885, to Miss Lilian G. Johnson, who was born Feb. 12, 1865, in Garfield Township, this county, and is the daughter of W. L. and Abigail (Coffin) Johnson, now residing in the township of her birth, and pursuing the occupation of farming. Her father was a native of Ohio, and her mother of Indiana. Mr. and Mrs. Lytle are the parents of one child, Elmer Abor, born Sept. 21, 1885. Politically Mr. Lytle is a Republican. He is engaged in general farming and stock-raising, and his care of the buildings, fences and other appurtenances of the farm, the manner in which he cares for the stock, puts in a crop and tends it, and, in fact, his neat and business-like way of doing everything, stamp him as a young man of more than ordinary ability.
Portrait & Biographical Album of Mahaska Co., Iowa, 1887
Mahaska County, Iowa Genealogy