[p. 500] residing on his farm of thirty-six acres, which is situated about one-half mile northwest of Rose Point, has engaged in farming for some years, but the larger part of his life has been devoted to the lumber industry. Mr. Eckert was born June 28, 1854, in Slippery Rock Township, Lawrence County, Pennsylvania, and is a son of John Nicholas and Frances (Morrison) Eckert.
George Eckert, the grandfather, was of German descent, but probably was born in Franklin County, Pennsylvania, where he resided for many years on his ample farm. He was twice married and he and both wives died at Chambersburg.
John Nicholas Eckert, the father, was born in Franklin County, Pennsylvania. When seventeen years of age he left home and thenceforward made his own way in the world. He was a general mechanic and especially a millwright, and during early manhood visited different sections of Ohio and Indiana, where he built many mills. After he returned to Pennsylvania he married Frances, daughter of John Morrison, and then bought a place in Slippery Rock Township. He had fine water power on his land and soon had both a saw and grist mill built, and these he operated in connection with tilling his land. Some years after the death of his wife he moved to a farm which had been purchased by a son and daughter, and there he died, May 18, 1906. His eight children were as follows: Virginia L., Mary Ann, Theo William, Hannah Jane, Laura Catherine, Sadie Emma, Alfred L. and Margaret Addie. Virginia L. and Sadie Emma are both deceased.
In assisting his father both on the farm and in his mill enterprises, after the end of his school days, Theo William Eckert found plenty of occupation until he was twenty-five years of age, in the meanwhile having learned the carpenter trade and worked at it for some time independent of his other duties. He then turned his attention entirely to the lumber industry, and erected a steam sawmill on the home place and operated it for a considerable period. Subsequently he went to the western part of Lawrence County, and from there to Beaver County and carried on a lumber business there for about eighteen years. His last field of lumbering was in West Virginia, where he was engaged for some four years. When he returned to Slippery Rock Township he found himself yet too young and active to retire from business, therefore he bought his present valuable little farm and finds in its cultivation the quiet life he enjoys. He owns also property at Rose Point.
Mr. Eckert married Eliza Jane Barnes, who is a daughter of John Barnes, who was a resident of Slippery Rock Township. They have no children. Mr. and Mrs. Eckert are members of the Princeton Presbyterian Church. In his political views he is a Republican.
20th Century History of New Castle and Lawrence County Pennsylvania and Representative Citizens Hon. Aaron L. Hazen Richmond-Arnold Publishing Company, Chicago, Ill., 1908
Previous Biography | Table of Contents | Next Biography
Explanation/Caution | Lawrence Co. Maps | Lawrence Co. Histories
Updated: 30 Oct 2001