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         WILLIAM E. ECKMAN, President of the Farmers’ and Merchants’ Bank, of Columbus Junction, and senior partner of the firm of Eckman & Baldwin, lumber merchants, is a native of Lancaster County, Pa., born March 4, . . .

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. . . 1844. His parents, Baltzer and Susan (Westcott) Eckman, were also natives of the same county, the father being of German and the mother of Scotch descent. Our subject was reared on a farm and is largely self-educated, as the circumstances of his early life admitted of but a brief attendance at the public schools. When twenty-one years of age he went to Illinois, spending a short time at Quincy, and then removed to Payson, where he was married Jan. 19, 1869, Miss Lina Sinnock, daughter of George Sinnock, becoming his wife. She was born and reared at Payson, Ill., and one child graces their union, a daughter, Lillie V.

Mr. Eckman removed to Greenfield, and from there to Virden, Ill., where he was engaged in the dry-goods business for about four years, and then formed a partnership with his present partner, F. M. Baldwin, in the grain and lumber business. They had yards and elevators at both Virden and Atwater, Ill., Mr. Eckman conducting the business at the former place and Mr. Baldwin at the latter. In May, 1884, they sold out, and bought into their present business at Columbus Junction and removed to this city. Mr. Eckman was one of the incorporators of the Farmers’ and Merchants’ Bank of that city, which was put in operation in March, 1888, he being one of the Directors and is the first President.

Mr. Eckman and wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. In politics he is a Democrat, and is also connected with the Masonic fraternity, being a member of Virden Lodge No. 162, A. F. & A. M. An enterprising, energetic business man, Mr. Eckman ranks among the foremost citizens of the town.