ber living. Politically he is in sympathy with the democratic party. Always straightforward, sincere and generous in judging others, he was early recognized as the possessor of those estimable qualities that are most essential in the formation of manly character. That he has ably performed his part is the unanimous opinion of those who know him best.
FRANK JOHNSTON ECKELS.
One of the best known and most highly esteemed citizens of Story county is Frank Johnston Eckels, who was born in Mercer county, Pennsylvania, on the 20th of September, 1855. His father, James Starr Eckels was also from the Keystone state, having been born in Cumberland county on the 7th of December, 1827. The latter was a graduate of the Washington and Jefferson University 'and after having completed his academic course studied law. Before he began practicing, however, he filled the chair of Latin and Greek in a school at Greenville, Pennsylvania. He married Margaret Herron, a daughter of James and Isabelle (Johnston) Herron. Her father was a native of Pittsburg, the descendant of the Pennsylvania branch of the family, and the mother of New York, her family being originally from Kentucky, however.
James Starr Eckels left Pennsylvania in 1857 and located with his family in Princeton, Illinois, where he practiced law up to the time 0f his death. He was a member of the democratic party and was always very active in politics. He was several times the candidate of his party for congress in a republican district and he was also a delegate to all of the democratic national conventions while in politics. He passed away in Princeton, Illinois, in 1907. In his family were four children. Frank Johnston of this review is the eldest. James Herron, who was a lawyer, received the appointment as comptroller of currency during the Cleveland administration and after his retirement from office was elected to the presidency of the Commercial National Bank of Chicago. His death occurred in Chicago in April, 1897. George Morris is at present acting as legal counselor of the Commercial National Bank of Chicago. And Jane Isobelle is the widow of the late Dr. C. A. Palmer, of Princeton, Illinois. The maternal grandfather of our subject was a brother of the paternal grandfather of Mrs. William Taft, the wife of the president of the United States, thus Mrs. Taft and the children of James Starr Eckels are cousins.
Frank Johnston Eckels acquired his preliminary education in the public schools of Princeton and after graduation from the high school he went to Albany, New York, to attend law school, having chosen the profession of his father as his vocation. He received his degree in 1875 and, returning to Princeton, entered the office of his father, with whom he continued to practice until 1882, when he decided to give up law for agricul-