BIO: Samuel Foster LYTLE, Centre County, PA Contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by JRB Copyright 2009. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/centre/ http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/centre/1picts/commbios/comm-bios.htm _____________________________________________________________________ Commemorative Biographical Record of Central Pennsylvania: Including the Counties of Centre, Clearfield, Jefferson and Clarion: Containing Biographical Sketches of Prominent and Representative Citizens, Etc. Chicago: J. H. Beers, 1898. _____________________________________________________________________ SAMUEL FOSTER LYTLE, M.D., deceased October 9, 1896, occupied for a score of years a prominent position in his profession, and was recognized by his colleagues, far and near, as one of the leading physicians of Centre county. He was a member of the County, State and National Medical Associations. President of the Board of Health, and State Health Inspector for his District. Esteemed as he was by the members of his profession, the people, whose good fortune it was to be subject to his ministrations, loved him for his sympathetic nature, and venerated him for his rare ability and skill. Possessing as an inheritance the qualities of an ancestry whose lineage was noble in the highest sense, not because of descent from progenitors of rank and title, but because of that intrinsic strain of valor, firmness and fineness of character, and integrity of purpose which is the measure of worth and constitutes true nobility and gentility. He was also richly endowed by nature with a talent for the profession he loved and to which his life was devoted. The remote history of Dr. Lytle's family goes-back to County Donegal, Ireland, where the name still adheres, honored and respected, and begins in this country with the settlement of a branch of the family in Lancaster county, Penn., more than a century ago, where they became- distinguished for their patriotism during the period of the Revolution. Foremost in loyalty was Col. Andrew Lytle, who was commissioned as colonel of the 8th Pennsylvania Regiment in the Revolutionary army, July 23, 1781, in command of which he served with distinction, receiving the personal commendation of Gen. Washington, and honorable mention in the Archives of the State. He was a charter member of the Order of the Cincinnati, and died in 1784 of camp fever. His son, Isaac Lytle, grandfather of Dr. Lytle, was born in Lampeter, Lancaster county, in 1772, and was married in 1802, to Jane, daughter of Zaccheus Piersol, of Pequa Valley, a descendant of an ancient and honorable Scotch family in direct line from Archibald Douglas. He removed to Harris township, Centre county, in 1814, where he died September 30, 1854. His eldest son, Griffeth, father of Dr. Lytle, was born in 1806, coming with his father to Centre county in 1814, where he engaged in agriculture. He married Susan Foster, born in Huntingdon county in 1812, a woman of remarkable beauty of character and refinement of COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 289 manner. Purchasing a farm near Lemont, which is still the home of his eldest son, William, he resided there until 1855, when he bought a farm in the vicinity of State College, where his death occurred in 1875, his wife, Susan, surviving him fifteen years. Of their ten children, Dr. Lytle was the youngest son. Dr. Lytle was born March 14, 1851, and from early childhood evinced a decided trend of mind toward medicine and surgery, which increased with years until in early manhood it became his passion and determined his career. Graduating from State College, he pursued the study of medicine under Dr. J. Y. Dale, of Lemont, with the eagerness and intensity of one whose aspiration was to master the science. Entering Bellevue Hospital Medical College as the next step forward in his profession, he graduated honorably in 1875. Still bent on the acquirement of learning, he pursued a post-graduate course at Columbia College before entering upon the active duties of a physician. At this time he received an appointment as surgeon in the regular army, but the death of his father led him to decline the position. In the autumn of 1875 he came to Philipsburg, rapidly acquiring a practice. Four years later he married Nannie, daughter of Thomas Crissman (deceased) and Margaret Crissman, whose family still occupy a position of high standing in the community. With the increase of his clientage as the Doctor's popularity increased, the demands upon him became so great that his health suffered from the strain; but through his deep sympathy with others and his great fortitude, he bore his own suffering silently and bravely, ministering to the sick when needing help himself, and struggling against physical disability that would have broken a less heroic spirit. Gentle and generous to the last, courteous and brave, he died literally with harness on, coming from the bedside of a patient where with all his skill he was fighting for the life of another against the dread destroyer, to yield suddenly his own life up to that relentless hand. Dr. Lytle was a man of broad culture, studious habits, in touch with the most advanced movements in the science of medicine, and a type of the scholarly professional gentleman, beloved and mourned by the community which he served and healed.