The Idaho Republican. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1904-1932, 1916-05-19
HOW ECCLEs MADE HIS MILLIONS


The following sketch taken from
Goodwin's Weekly tells how a poor
boy In Scotland with relatives to
support became Utah millionaire.
The story is especially interesting to
Blackfoot people at this time because
of the investments now being made
| in this country by the sons of the
man named in the sketch. 1t shows
the possibilities in store for any poor
boy with pluck to lay hold of such
opportunities as present themselves,
however meager. The sluggard Is
ever ready to excuse himself from
effort by saying that those days of
opportunity are past, but the history
of the world shows that opportunity
has always been reckoning to all who
would respond.
"A ragged, ill-fed barefoot boy
once peddled woodenwares over the
sheaths of Scotland, supporting a
blind father and family of seven.
At night this child often slept curled
up by the roadway or in barns or
fence corners. IL the day ate spar
ingly that hemight carry food to his
home. Such was the child that in
scrutable destiny had decreed should,
in his allotted days, pass through
many harships, coming at last to be
great empire builder.
David Eccles (deceased) was born
May IL 1S49, in Paisley, Wrenfre-
shire, Scotland. He was the son of
William and Sarah (Hutchinson)
Eccles. At fourteen years he had
had but six months of book learning.
Afterwards he attended for a few
months the pioneer schools of Utah,
But it was not until he was twenty
six years of age that he began to
master for himself the rudiments of
education. But this he did in so
thorough a manner especially in the
study of mathematics that after !,
wards he was marvel in the busi- !,
ness and financial world.
The story of the life of this in
dustrial and financial giant, who liv-
ed honored and respected and died ;
possessing one of the largest fortunes ,
of the west, is one of great self
denial and iron will in the way of
attainment of single purpose. His
father was hard working wood turn
er until blindness stayed his labors.
Practically from the age of seven the
support of the family devolved upon
this child. In 1863 he was fourteen
years old, his father and mother with
their seven small children emigrated
to America. The little band pro-
ceeded Immediately west and crossed
lrsv Inv
Captain Haight, walking all the way
to Salt Lake City, distance Of one
thousand miles and undergoing all
the extreme harships of those early
day journeys.
Here again in Utah young David
set out to sell the wares made by
his blind father The struggle for
bread in Utah continued a severe one.
In 1857 the family decided to move
to Oregon City, They travelled the
entire distance of more than 500
miles over valleys, plains and mount
aims with only twowheeled OK
cart, most of the party walking the
entire distance. There for two years
Young David worked cutting timber.
In 1869 the family returned to Utah.
The next few years of his life were
seasons of great privations, many
and constant and in
effort. He became
timber worker and gradually an en-
plower of other workers and after
time owner of two OK teams and fin
ally in 1874 the owner of a small
lumber ayrd in Ogden. Thus was the
basis of his fortune established and