Newspaper Obituary

Wm Huston Eckels, aged 73 years 1 month and 10 days, died at his residence on East Main Street, last Wednesday, February 15th, at 9:30 a.m.
About a year ago he experienced an attack of LaGrippe, which was followed by consumption, and for the past two months he was confined to his bed. His wife and friends carefully administrating to his wants as life slowly ebbed away. He was the son of William and Rebecca Eckels, of Silver Spring township. His mother was the daughter of Jonathan and Margaret Huston, of the same township.
His Grand Father, Nathaniel Eckels, a son of CHARLES Eckels, was born on the sea in 1744. They were Scotch-Irish Presbyterians, who were driven out of North Ireland on account of the religious oppression. They were amoung the hardy pioneers who landed at Baltimore, Md., in 1744 and settled in Pennsylvania.
William's mother died Jan 5th 1820, at the age of 33 years, when he was only one hour old.
His father died November 15th 1861, having survived the mother 41 years.
After the death of his mother, his father married Jane Starr, by whom he had four children: Prof. James S. Eckels, of Princeton, Ill., is the only surviving one by this marriage.
The second Mrs Eckels died, and his father married Miss Hannah Starr. They had three children, all of which are dead.
The deceased was born on his father's farm in Silver Spring township and he remained with his father until the time of his marriage, June 1844 to Miss Elizabeth, daughter of Isaac and Jane Adams, of Hampton township. Soon after this he engaged mereantile business at Sporting Hill were he remained until 1862; he then opened a general store in Hogestown. By his first marriage he had 3 children, one of whom Mrs Agnes Sample, of Steelton survives him. His wife died December 24, 1866, after which he retired from business and settled on a farm near Hoguestown. Three years later, he resumed business at Hoguestown with L.B. Ewalt and they also established a branch store two miles north of Huston's Mill in Silver Spring.
In April 1881, he came to Mechanisburg and formed a prtnership with Mr. A.G. Sample in the boot and shoe, hat and cap business. The partnership was dissolved by mutual agreement, Mr. Sample taking the entire stock.
Mr. Eckels then opened a general grocery and provision store on East Main Street. In June 1881, he was married to Mrs. Jennie Armstrong, daughter of William and Rebecca Hershman, of this place. They had five children: Minnie, Blanche, Olive, Carroll and Everett, all of whom together with their mother survive him.
Mr. Eckels had two brothers, Jonathan and Nathaniel and two sisters, Mrs John Swiler and Margaret Swiler, all of whom are dead.
Mr. Eckels was a representative enterprising business man and conducted his business until within a few months of his death. He was a highly respected citizen and had the confidence of all who knew him.
For 32 years he was a trustee of the Silver Spring Presbyterian church, though not a member of the church until about a month before his death, when he made a profession of religion and was admitted to membership in the Silver Spring church. A meeting of the Elders being held at his house for that purpose, after which he partook the communion, Rev. T.J. Ferguson officiating.
Prior to his death, he named the ministers and pall bearers which he desired to attend his funeral. He also requested that the hymn "Just as I am," be sung at the funeral service. It was sung at the time of his conversion.
The funeral services took place yesterday, at one o'clock, at his late residence on East Main street, and then at the Silver Spring church were the interment took place. Rev. F.J. Ferguson, his pastor, asisted by W.K. Foster, Rev.D.S. Shoop and Rev. W.C. Hesser.
The pall bearers were: William Irvin, Samuel F. Huston, W. F. Sherban and Adam Orris.
The funeral was an unusually large one.