Watertown weekly leader. [volume] (Watertown, Jefferson County, Wis.) 1906-1908, 1907-04-19

ton never before knew. Out of this
large number of suspended banks no less
than 10 resumed business of which only
fifteen again suspended leaving one hun
dred saved from the original number.
There was collected and paid out to de-
poSitors Of failed banks more than SIS
100000, or above 36 per cent. of all that
had been paid out in the history of the
national banking system. There were
many other banks that had to be care
fully nursed and protected in order to
enable them to pull through, and alto
gether it was time of unceasing strain
and anxiety. 1t was a titanic task for
the new comptroller and one which
would have completely swamped a man
of less force, resource and good judg
ment. The strength and sagacity of Mr..
Eckels, however, We're equal to the emer
gency. The statement has been made
that NJ Eckels never made mistake"
during the four years and a half that he
was at the helm of the comprehensive.
In 1896 Mr.. Eckels became identified
with the gold Democrats and made many
speeches throughout the country in favor
of Palmer and Buckner. After Mr.. Nc
KinIey's election Mr. Eckels was over
whelmed with offers of posts of high
financial responsibility from many cor
Of his talents. His eyes turned to Hi
nois however. and he came to Chicago
January /. 1898, to fill the position of
president of the Commercial National
Bank, which he held until his death.
One Child in Family.
Mrs. Eckels was formerly Miss Fannie
LiSSette Reed of Ottawa, to whom he
was married December 10. 1887. Miss
Phoebe EckelS Is their only child. She
was to be formally presented to society
next winter. In 1904 Mr.. Eckels was
,i,,1
zee in charge Of the crusade against
crime. Last year he was elected one of
the trustees OF the New York Life Insur-
ance Company. and he was talked Of for
The presidency OF the company.
Mr.. EckelS was prominent as club
man. lie was a member of the Chicago.
Union League, Union, Saddle and Cycle,
Iroquois. Midlothian, University, Midday,
Commercial and Bankers clubs
In addition to the presidency of the
Commercial National bank, Mr.. EckeIs
was stakeholder and prominent in the
management of numerous other COM
panies. Besides being one Of the receiv-
erS of the Chicago Union Traction com
pany. Mr. EckeIs was vice-presidcnt of
that corporation and was interested i'll
the Hewitt Manufacturing company, the
| EeatherstOne Foundry and Machine
company. the Chicago Real Estate Trus-
teCeS' association. the .hllis-Chalmers
company. the American and BRITISH Sc
curitics company. Bankers Trust of New
York. Oakland National Bank of Detroit,
ard First National Bank of Baltimore.
Cleveland Is Grieved.
When the news of Mr.. EcFels' death
reached former President Cleveland i'll
the afternoon at his home in Princeton,
y. j.. he displayed great emotion. He
paid this tribute.
Il was closely related to Mr.. Eckels
and his death comes to me with pc
culiar shock In important public work
| learned to know how intelligently and
industriously he devoted himself to duty,
and in the intimacy of close friendship
| learned to know and appreciate his rare
and attractive qualities of heart. These
incidents have personal touch with my
deceased friend. and cause me to mourn
his death as a great personal sorrow.
Mr. Eckels Illustrated the traits that
make tie best American citizenship.
Deeply interested i'll every question con-
nected with the public welfare, he stud
led them with soberncss to the end that
he might increase his usefulness. He
was a public-Sprted man who saw duty
all about him and whose influence was
impressed on all his surroundings for
good.
There was nothing frivolous about
Mr. Eckels. In every relation of. life, as
n citizen, as q business man and as Il
| friend he was earnest and whole-heart-
ed Neither the immediate community IN
| which he dwelt nor the country at large
can we'll afford to lose a man like James
H Eckels.
Mr.. Eckels had a beautiful summer
| home at OconOmoWnc, Wis.