"Albert Eckey, my father was born September 20, 1879 and he was married to Miss Edith Adell Davey, daughter of Jesse and Mary Frances (Eaton) Davey who lived on a farm about four miles north of New London, Iowa. To this union was born six children; Ralph Calvert, Raymond Merle, Evelyn Elizabeth, Henry William, Delbert and Erma. Delbert and Erma died in infancy. We were all born and raised on farms near Mt. Union, Iowa. I being the oldest child in our family was the first one that had the opportunity of working with the livestock and in the fields with my father. . . I had the wonderful experience of working with my father for almost two seasons, when he died, leaving my mother with the responsibility of raising her little flock. . .

My mother Edith A Eckey, had a closing out farm sale, and sold practically everything and we moved to London, temporarily with my grandmother Davey. . . Well mother moved to New London with her flock, had we all moved in with my grandmother in her small brick home, it would have been rather crowded. So our uncle Oscar Eckey who was now living on grandfather Eckey's farm near Mt. Union, told my mother that they would be most happy to take my brother Raymond Merle home with them to live and go to school in Mt. Union, until such time as she got settled and had her own home. Uncle Walter Eckey who lived just down the road a short distance, asked mother if they might not take me (Ralph) to live with them and attend school, that way my brother and I would always be close together. Our mother did buy a small property in New London in about a few months, and she brought us home that we may all be together again. We all attended New London school, and all graduated from the New London High School."

Written by
Ralph C. Eckey
New London, Iowa
21 December 1964