Francis Marion Kyte was part of a large family which had 11 children. His father died in 1851. He then moved to Clarke County along with his widowed mother. In the summer of 1861, he enlisted in the Union Army and served throughout the Civil War in the Co. F. Sixth Iowa Infantry division; he was then promoted to first lieutenant following his service. Following the war, he was elected as auditor, in which position he served up until 1874. After that, he joined the grocery business; he was then chosen as auditor again serving seven terms. Between 1890 and 1892, Kyte was a Republican member of the Iowa House of Representatives for District 15.