James W. Eckles, b. 25 Feb 1827

HAGGERTY, MORRISON, LYTLE, KELLY, ATCHISON, EDWARDS, BURNAP

Posted By: Donna Moldt Walker (email)
Date: 3/7/2004 at 15:27:38

Dr. James W. Eckles, one of the pioneer physicans of this county, is considered by his fellow-citizens a faithful and conscientious practitioner, and enjoys in a marked degree their esteem and confidence. He was born in Beaver County, Pa., Feb. 25, 1827, and is the son of Joseph Eckles, whose father, Thomas Eckles, was the son of William Eckles, a native of County Down, Ireland. The latter emigrated to the United States between the years 1750 and 1760, and locating in Bedford County, Pa., sojourned there during the progress of the Revolutionary War. It is believed that he had a hand in this conflict, and he was the father of four sons - Thomas, Samuel, James, and John. There were all born in Bedford County, where their father spent his last days.

Thomas Eckles, the paternal grandfather of our subject, was reared in his native county, and served as a soldier in the War of 1812. He married Miss Martha Haggerty, a native of Ireland, who came to the United States with her parents when a child. Soon after their marriage they removed from Bedford County to Westmoreland County, Pa., making the journey over the Alleghany Mountains with teams, when Indians were numerous and not always to be trusted. They removed later to Beaver County and located amidst the heavy timber, and Grandfather Eckles felled the trees and cleared a farm. There his son Joseph, the father of our subject, was born, in 1798.

The next removal of this family was to what was then Beaver, but is now Lawrence County, Pa., where their three sons and seven daughters grew to maturity. They were named respectively: Joseph, Thomas, William, Hattie, Nancy, Eliza, Susan, Rebecca, Julia, and Maria. At this latter place Grandfather Eckles proceeded as before to build up a home in the wilderness, and there he spent his last days. Joseph, like his brothers and sisters, pursued his early studies in the log school-house, and learned to "read, write, and cipher." When these arts were acquired his education was considered finished. He remained under the parental roof until reaching manhood, and was then married to a Miss Morrison, who only lived about two years.

Joseph Eckles, in due time, contracted a second matrimonial alliance, with Mrs. Susan (Kelly) Lytle, who was the mother of three children - Polly, Eliza Ann, and Julia Ann. Of this second marriage there were born four sons and one daughter, namely: William, John, James (our subject), Joseph, and Betsey; the latter is the wife of Joseph Morrison, who resides at the old homestead in Pennsylvania. Joseph died in Pennsylvania, at the age of four years; William died in Kansas, in 1886; John died in Missouri, about 1868. The parents died at the old homestead, the father at the age of fifty-nine years, and the mother after having reached the advanced age of eighty-four.

The subject of this sketch received his preparatory education in Washington County, Pa., and then entered the medical college at Cleveland, Ohio, from which he was graduated in 1850. The late Dr. Bliss, of New York State, was one of his class-mates. He began the practice of medicine in Princeton, Lawrence County, Pa., where he sojourned until the spring of 1855. Then, coming to this county, he located in Otter Creek, where he lived two years, and in the fall of 1857 changed his residence to Fulton, which has since been his home, and in and around which he has built up a large and lucrative practice.

At the time of the arrival of Dr. Eckles in this region there were no public highways or bridges - simply a trail which he would follow on horseback frequently from fifteen to twenty miles, often swimming the streams on his horse during the milder seasons of the year; and in winter, crossing on the ice, his horse would frequently break through, and both horse and man be submerged in the chilling waters. Then the Doctor would frequently ride quite a distance with his clothes frozen still upon him. It required a stout heart to persevere under the various difficulties which attended the young physician, but he surmounted them all, and did not permit himself to surrender his first purpose of making his home in the West.

In August, 1862, after the outbreak of the Civil War, Dr. Eckles organized Company B., of the 26th Iowa Infantry, and upon entering the field was given a Captain's commission. In that capacity he served until December following, when he was promoted to the rank of Major. He subsequently was employed largely as a Surgeon in the hospitals, but on account of a chronic ailment, was obliged to accept his honorable discharge, in June, 1863. Then, returning home, he, as soon as his health would permit, resumed his practice in this county, which he followed almost uninterruptedly for a period of twenty-three years, and until 1886, when failing health compelled him to abandon it, and he is now living retired from active business.

The marriage of Dr. James W. Eckles and Miss Mary J. Atchison was celebrated at the bride's home in Washington County, Pa., July 5, 1849. This lady was born in that county, and by her union with our subject became the mother of six children, of whom the record is as follows: Joseph married Miss Ida Edwards, of this county, and they are living in Polk County, Neb.; Eugene is with his father; Susan is the wife of J.M. Burnap, and lives in Oregon, Ogle County, Ill.; Isabel C., James V., and Mary are deceased.

The Doctor and his wife are members in good standing of the Presbyterian Church, while their daughter Susan is a Methodist. The Doctor is one of the pillars of this church, and officiates as Deacon. Socially, he belongs to the Masonic fraternity, being a member of Hermitage Lodge at Andrew. He has also been identified with the I.O.O.F. many years. He was, in years gone by, an active member of the Sons of Temperance, representing them in the Grand Lodge, and is also a Good Templar. He owns and occupies a neat home in Fulton, and numbers his friends and patrons among its best people.

("Portrait and Biographical Album of Jackson County, Iowa", originally published in 1889, by the Chapman Brothers, of Chicago, Illinois.)