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HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY ILLINOIS - 1915

Chicago: Munsell Publishing Company


Page 920

LYLES, ALBERT R., M.D. - Few members of the medical profession in Cass County have stood higher than Dr. Albert R. Lyles, of Virginia, now one of the leaders among the physicians and surgeons of his locality. He was born in Allen County, Ky., July 19, 1861, a son of Moses M. and Sarah J. (Walker) Lyles, natives of Allen County, Ky., where they died. The paternal great-grandfather was a native of the state of Virginia. Like many of southern birth, Dr. Lyles is very proud of his family history, and takes an interest in historical matters to the extent of belonging to the Illinois State Historical Society.

The Lyles family is probably of Norman extraction, and of the Landed Gentry of England. The lineage of the family branch of which Doctor Lyles is a member, traces back to Edmund Lyles, Esq., of Wilbraham, Cambridgeshire, England, who was Sewer to Edward VI, Queen Mary, Queen Elizabeth and King James I of England.

Albert R. Lyles attended the public schools and academy of his native place, following which he was a school teacher for three terms. He then engaged in a mercantile business in Coles County, Ill., for three years, but not desiring to confine himself to a business life, he sold his interests and began studying medicine, being graduated in 1890 from the College of Physicians and Surgeons at St. Louis, Mo. Following the securing of his degree, Dr. Lyles began practicing, first in Coles County, but later at Beardstown, and after six years there, came to Virginia, where he has become one of the leading citizens. Keeping fully abreast of the times, Dr. Lyles belongs to the Cass County Medical Society, the Illinois State Medical Society and the American Medical Association, and was first president of the first named body, which he is now serving as treasurer, Dr. T. G. Charles of Beardstown, being the present secretary.

Dr. Lyles is a member of the A. F. & A. M., the K. of P., and the Modern Woodmen of America, and is the medical examiner of the last named order. The Presbyterian church holds his membership, and benefits by his sage advice and generous donations. Not only has Dr. Lyles been prominent in his profession and in fraternal matters, but he served Virginia for two years as mayor, being elected in 1901.

The marriage of Dr. Lyles occurred in Cass County when he was united with Stella L. Pendleton, a daughter of Arthur M. and Hester (Hewitt) Pendleton. Mrs. Lyles is a member of the National Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution, Springfield (Illinois) Chapter. Her great-great-grandfather, Colonel James Pendleton, Jr., of Culpepper County, Va., was for many years a representative of Culpepper County in the House of Burgesses and the State Legislature under the Commonwealth; a colonel in the Continental army, and also for many years a vestryman and warden of St. Mark's Parish, Virginia. He was of the eighth generation in line of direct descent from George Pendleton, Esq., of the town of Pendleton, Lancashire, England, where the family was well known in public life during the reign of Henry VIII. Dr. and Mrs. Lyles have two children: Miriam Eunice, and Pauline Lavinia, both of whom are attending the Virginia public schools.