William F. Lytle was born in Carrollton Township, Carroll County, Ind., August 26, 1844. His parents were natives of Butler County, Ohio and moved to Carroll County in 1843, where they engaged in farming. In 1855, they moved near Dayton in Tippecanoe County; thence in 1857, to Prairie Township, White County. During these years, William assisted his father on the farm and received such instruction during the winter months as was imparted by the country schools. In 1857, he entered the academy at Battle Ground where he remained two years. When the war broke out he enlisted, August 22, 1862 in Company K. Eighty-sixth Indiana Infantry. The regiment was mustered into the service September 4, 1862, and at once hurried to Cincinnati to protect the city against a threatened invasion by the rebel Gen. Kirby Smith. From Cincinnati the went by boat to Louisville, whence it started in pursuit of Bragg. In the marching and countermarching and random movements of he regiment, Mr. Lytle gained much geographical information, but no very valuable knowledge of the art of war. Finally however the command reached Nashville and was assigned for duty to the Second Brigade, Third Division of the Twenty-first Army Corps. Now the information to be gained was less of the geographical and more of the military (__). The weary marches were soon forgotten in the leaden storm of the terrible battle at Stone River, and in the first day'’ fearful struggle, Mr. Lytle received a severe rifle shot wound in the left side and breast. He was transferred to Hospital No. 13 at Nashville and later was carried by boat to Hospital No. 6 at Louisville. It was nearly a year before he was able for service again. Rejoining his regiment at Chattanooga he again saw active service in the fight at Mission Ridge, where the Eighty-sixth was in the storming column. He was severely, though not seriously hurt in this engagement, by being struck on the shoulder by a piece of an exploded shell. In 1864, he was with his regiment in the long and arduous campaign against Atlanta and participated in the fighting at Rocky Face Ridge, Resaca, Adairsville, Kingston, Picket’s Mills, Kenesaw Mountain, Chattahoochie River, Peach Tree Creek, Atlanta, Jonesboro and Lovejoy’s. The regiment then fell back participated in the Hood campaign and was engaged in the battles at Franklin and Nashville. After these decisive battles, which served to utterly shatter the Confederate forces in the West the regiment joined in pursuit of the demoralized enemy until driven across the Tennessee River. The command then went into camped at Huntsville Fighting was now over, and the regiment was ordered to Nashville, where it arrived April 27, 1865. On the 6^th of June following, it was mustered out of service. Mr. Lytle, except during the period of his confinement to the hospital and of his convalescence after his wound at Stone river, was with the regiment, a private in the ranks from first to last in all its marches and battles and no regiment from Indiana encountered harder service or made a better record then the Eighty-sixth.

Mr. Lytle returned to Battle Ground and engaged in the drug business. He remained there until January 15, 1868, when having sold his business at Battle Ground he came to Delphi and re-entered the drug business, forming a partnership with Mr. Jakes, the style of the firm being Jakes & Lytle. The firm was highly successful in business and rapidly enlarged their stock and patronage. In 1875, Mr. Jakes retired from the firm and the business was continued by Mr. Lytle. During the year 1878 he in company with his brother, started a stave and cooperage factory under the name and style of the Lytle Manufacturing Company. A few months later, the company abandoned this line of manufacturing and substituted that of spokes, hubs, plow beams, etc. This line of business is still pursued. Changes have taken place in the business associates, but Mr. Lytle, the leading figure of the company, has remained and under his management the industry has rapidly developed, so that at present it ranks with best of its line in the West. In building up this industrial establishment he has manifested an interminable energy and the possession of great executive ability. In 1880, the manufacturing department demanding so much of his attention, he disposed of an interest in the drug business to Dr. A. A. Wells of Stockwell.

Mr. Lytle was married , September 23, 1869, to Miss Emma E. Casad of Crawfordsville.

He is an active member of the independent Order of Odd Fellows holding membership in Carroll Lodge No. 174, and Delphi Encampment No. 127. He was also a charter member of Boothroyd Post G.A.R. of this city.

County Coordinator: Suzy Sprague suzyq.wa@worldnet.att.net