John Eckley

ECKLEY

Posted By: Clay County IAGenWeb Coordinator (email)
Date: 11/6/2010 at 13:31:47

Farmer, PO Sioux Rapids. Was born in Birmingham, Van Buren county, Iowa, on the first day of January 1849. When at a youthful age his parents moved to Knox county, Illinois. For twenty years he remained a resident of that state. On November 5th, 1859, he returned to Iowa and has been a citizen ever since that date. Afterwards he came to Clay county, and is among the few who braved the privations of pioneer life and suffered from the ravages of the grasshopper raids and yet remained. He has been a successful farmer, and although losing almost everything by the grasshoppers, he has succeeded in accumulating considerable property. In 1878 he began in a small way to manufacture cheese, and his business has gradually grown annually made over 55,000 pounds, which has met with a prompt and ready sale. Mr. Eckley is a leading and influential citizen of Douglas township, and has been, a number of times, chosen by his fellow townsmen as their representative besides holding a number of township offices.

Source: A History of Clay County, Iowa, by W. C. Gilbreath, 1889, p. 224.