Mercer County PAGenWeb


George W. Eckles


GEORGE W. ECKLES, lumberman and contractor, doing a prosperous business at Sharpsville. Pennsylvania, was born in Fairview township, Mercer county, April 22, 1863, a son of Asa and Amelia (McDonald) Eckles. His father was born in Lawrence county, Pennsylvania, November 19, 1823. and died April 28, 1884. The mother was born at the old Robert McDonald farm in Jefferson township, Mercer county, October 31, 1832, and died March 25, 1904. in Sharpsville. They were the parents of eleven children-nine sons and two daughters. Their names are: William, living on the old homestead: John, who died at the age of sixteen years; Esther, who died when forty-eight; Lemuel R., the founder of what is now known as Fredonia Institute, and who was the first principal of the Sandy Lake Institute and is now superintendent of the Waynesburg schools. He was county superintendent in Mercer county schools for six years. In 1906 he with his brothers, Asa J. and A. E., compiled what is known as the Hamlin Arithmetic. Monroe, an attorney in Erie, Pennsylvania; Asa J., an attorney of Pittsburg; Phoeby, residing in Erie; Wilson, a traveling salesman; James, who died in infancy; A. E., a graduate of the law department of the Western University of Pennsylvania at Pittsburg, now practicing law there:
George W., of this notice. The grandfather, George Eckles, a blacksmith, was born in Lawrence county. Pennsylvania: was a pioneer in the county and died there. He served as a soldier of the war of 1812 and lies buried in the old Spangler burying ground in Perry township, Mercer county.

Asa Eckles spent his youthful days on the old Eckles homestead, in Lawrence county, and learned to be a first class engineer. He was engineer for the Norman Hall Furnace Company along in the sixties; was also engineer for the Clay Furnace Company; then with Norman Hall at Erie, and a blast furnace engineer with the Hall & Company furnaces. He subsequently returned to the old homestead in Fairview township, where he died. He was a highly respected man; never tasted liquors of any kind and stood for all that was pure, true and good in the community.

George W. Eckles spent his younger days on the farm and in 1900 engaged in the coal business in Sharpsville, continuing until 1904; then engaged in the lumber and contracting business, in which he is still operating successfully. Politically he is a Republican. He served as member of the school board in Fairview township and has been a member of the borough council at Sharpsville.

Mr. Eckles was married in November, 1892, to Nannie J. Boyd, born in New Vernon township, Mercer county, Pennsylvania, July 6, 1867, daughter of Barber H. and Isabelle (Burrows) Boyd. Her father was born in Cool Spring township, Mercer county, April 19, 1833, and is still living in New Vernon township. The mother was born in Hubbard, Ohio, February 15, 1837, and still survives. Of the children of this union three are deceased and the living are: Guy; Sylvester; Finley; Nannie J. (Mrs. Eckles); Mary, wife of M. Haggerty; Walter; Lina, wife of Frank Osborn; Newton.
The grandfather of Mrs. Eckles, Thomas Boyd, was born in Ireland and came to America with his parents when quite young; the family located in Cool Spring township, Mercer county, Pennsylvania. Mrs. Eckles' father was born on the old homestead and followed farming all of his years. The family are members of the Methodist Episcopal church and in politics the father is a Democrat. Mr. and Mrs. Eckles have the following children: Bessie Isabell, Beatrice Amelia and Mary Lina.

The only uncle Mr. Eckles has living is William McDonald, his mother's brother, who spends much of his time with his nephew. He was born on the old McDonald homestead in Jefferson township, Mercer county, July 17, 1835. He has spent twenty years in Ohio, ten years in old Virginia and the rest of his life has been spent in Mercer county. A furnace blower by profession, hale and hearty, he still likes the deer chase in the Allegheny mountains. The grandfather, Robert McDonald, born in Scotland, was a Revolutionary soldier. The sons of this pioneer and his wife Mary were: Robert, Orthel, Alexander, Charles and William. This family was among the first to settle in Mercer county, the nearest neighbor being seven miles. William was the father of Mr. Eckles' uncle.

Twentieth Century History of Mercer County, 1909, pages 644-645



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