- JAMES E. LITEL is a prominent and progressive citizen of
Albany, Green county, where he was
- formerly engaged as a general merchant, having kept a good
stock of goods carefully selected for the local needs and, in
his business, won a reputation as a man of honesty and integrity.
- Mr. LITEL was born in Avoca, Wis., Aug. 29, 1861, and is
a son of John F. and Mary A.
- (MEARS) LITEL. The father was born in Illinois, and the mother
in Ireland. Seven children were born to them, three of whom are
now living: James E.; John F., of Oregon, Wis.; and Cora May,
wife of John CARAWAY, of Biloxi, Miss. The father, when seventeen
years of age, started to California, and for several years was
a gold miner. On his return he engaged as a general merchant
at Avoca for several years and then spent a year on a farm. He
was in business at Lone Rock again, and from there he went to
Afton, where he built a gristmill. He was a general merchant
at Footville, after leaving Afton. In 1880 he came to Albany,
and continued the same business for several years. In 1885 his
son, James E., succeeded to the business.
- James E. LITEL was three years old when his father left Avoca
and he spent his childhood and
- youth in the various towns where his father was engaged in
business. When old enough he was taken into his father's store
as a clerk, and had a thorough commercial training under his
immediate supervision. As already noted, in 1885 he bought the
store and was engaged in its management until December 1900,
when he sold out and went to California, remaining several months.
In August, 1899, James E., in company with his father, John F.,
and brother John F., Jr., organized the Bank of Oregon, located
at Oregon, Wis., which transacts a general banking business,
and is in a prosperous condition.
- On Jan. 11, 1880 James E. LITEL was married to Miss Ella
BEACH, daughter of Hopson and
- Lydia (RUSH) BEACH. They are the parents of four children,
two of whom are living at the present time, Hazel and John B.;
Sidney died at the age of five months; and one died in infancy.
Mrs. LITEL belongs to the Methodist Church. Fraternally Mr. LITEL
is a member of the Knights of Pythias. Politically he is a Democrat,
and during the administration of President Cleveland was postmaster
of Albany; he was chairman of the Democratic central committee
during several campaigns. He has been a member of the board of
trustees of Albany several terms, and is a gentleman of character
and standing at home and wherever he is known.
-
- Taken from "Commemorative Biographical Record of
the Counties of Rock, Green, Grant, Iowa and Lafayette Wisconsin,"
(c)1901 Union Publishing; p. 874.
-
- Courtesy of Carol.
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