Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1907-04-19

ton never before knew. Out of this
large number of suspended banks no less
than Is resumed business Of which only
fifteen again suspended, leaving one num-
dred saved from the original number
There was collected and paid out to de-
positors of failed banks more than 80
100000 or above So 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 unceaslng strain
and anxiety. 1t was a titanic task for
the new comptroller and one which
, would have completely swamped man
of less force, resource and good judg-
ment. The strength and sagacity of Mr.
Eckels, however, were equal to the emer-
gency. The statement has been made
that Mr. Eckels never made a mistake"
during the four years and a half that he
was at the helm of the comptrollership.
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
Kinley's election Mr.. Eckels was over
whelmed with offers of posts of high
| financial responsibility from many cor
porations that wished to have the benefit
| of his talents. His eyes turned to Hi
| nois, however. and he came to Chicago
January 1, 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 aS't to be Formally presented to society
next winter. In 1904 Mr.. Eckels was
made chairman of the financial commit
/ tee 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 a club
man. He 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.. Eckels
was a stakeholder and prominent in the
management of numerous other COM
panes. Besides being one of the receiv
ers of the Chicago Union Traction COM
pany, Mr.. Eckels was e-president Of
that corporation and was interested in
Featherstone Foundry and Machine
company, the Chicago Real Estate Trus-
teees' association, the Allis- Chalmers
| company, the American and British Sc
curities company, Bankers Trust of New
York, Oakland National Bank of Detroit,
and First National Bank of Baltimore.
Cleveland Is Grieved.
When the news of Mr.. Eckels' death
reached former President Cleveland i'll
| the afternoon at his home in Princeton,
n. J., he displayed great emotion. He
paid this tribute.
II was closely related to Mr.. Eckels
| and his death comes to me with a Pc
culiar shock. In important PUBLIC work
| I 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 the best American citizenship.
Deeply interested in every question con-
nected with the public welfare, he stud
led them with soberness to the end that
he might increase his usefulness He
was a public-spirited 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
a citizen, as a business man and as
| friend, he was earnest and whoie-heart-
ed. Neither the immediate community IN
which he dwelt nor the country at large
can we'll afford to lose man like James
H. Eckels."
Mr.. Eckels had a beautiful summer
home at Oconomowoc, WIS.