R R 4
Box 28
Oroville
Butte County
California
Decmb 6/14 (1914)
My Dear Sister
As we have had no word from you for so long I thought I would write and see how you all are and to hear how this awful War is affecting you if it is half as bad as the newspapers out here report it must be Hell indeed. I had to quit reading it for I could not sleep for thinking about it so many brave men of all nations to be killed like sheep, and so many Widows and Orphans. I saw last week where the German Air Ships were flying over Sheerness that is not far from you is it and so many fine Ships with their crews sunk by the Torpedoes under water catching the poor fellows like rats in a trap it does seem so brutal. did you get your Pension? I hope you did. I have put two English sixpences in this letter for you to get a good cup of tea. I see you have got to pay more for your tea by the War Tax. I have had them a long time, got them in change for 10 cent pieces: it is all we got to give you. we have had a poor year in the mine there is so much dead work to do and the gold is very scarce. We had an immense crop of fruit of good quality but the European War has made a big difference in the sale of dried fruit and the price is very low if you want to sell but everything you got to buy is very high the Speckulators ran the price of Sugar up three dollars on the 100lb in one week but President Wilson put a stop to that so it is dropped again but flour is a dollar 100lb dearer we are paying 3.90. Bob and I was 5 weeks steady cutting and drying the best of the fruit Bessie and the boys could not help they had so much of their own to do and it looked for a time as if we could not sell it at any price but we finally traded it for grub and have dried a lot for the pigs and been feeding the Winter Pears to the Cow so it all helped one way and the other we are going to kill the pigs next week we only got two but they are fine ones we got some of the Bacon left from last year that is another thing that is very high 30 cents a lb. We are both pretty well now but I have had Rheumatism and Bob the chills Bessie and her crowd are quite well and Alfred has had several little jobs of work he has earned quite a few dollars he is very eager to earn some money he is taller than his Granpa little Bob is good too he is going to school on Alfred's bike hoping you and yours are all well I will close with love to you all from your loving Brother and Sister
R and A S Lyte
give our love to Sally when you write to her
Mr G Cooksey lives close to Mrs Jane Williams he is 90 years old and a bedlier
Oroville Mercury June 2nd 1910
Fred Lyte of Pentz is dead. Latest news from our special Cherokee correspondent
Cherokee June 2nd
Fred Lyte received an injury to his spine 13 years ago, which resulted in paralysis from the waist down, rendering him completely helpless from that time, until Monday night, when he died at the home of his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Robt. Lyte, at Dry Creek, nr Pentz, at the age of 31 years.
During all these years of his patience and fortitude in the face of his affliction we often remarked. Besides his parents, a sister, Mrs. Bessie Blum survives him. The funeral services were conducted today at the Odd Fellows Hall in Cherokee, by Rev. Mr. Richmond, and were largely attended. Mrs E. C. Wilson and Miss Mabel Thomas sang a number of appropriate selections at the Hall and at the grave.
The Pall-bearers were Thos. Mugford, Jas. Johnson, Fred Lee, Geo. Taylor, John V. Williams and Frank M. Cory. The funeral was in charge of M.V. Roe of Orloff
Oroville mercury, May 19th 1927
Mrs. Lyte of Pentz Called
Mrs. Amanda S. Lyte, wife of Robt. Lyte, of Pentz, died in Oroville this morning, after an extended illness.
Mrs. Lyte was born in Devonshire, England, 75 years ago. She had been in the U.S. for 54 years, and at Pentz for the past 49 years. Surviving are the Widower: a daughter, Mrs. Bessie Blum, and 2 grandchildren, all of Pentz. Funeral arrangements will be made at the Thomas Funeral Home.
Bob died on June 12th 1928.
