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REV. ABRAHAM EADS. - It is very fitting that in the history of the county with which we have to do at the present time, their should be incorporated a resume of the career of the beloved and esteemed gentleman, whose name appears at the head of this article, and whose life of usefulness has been so intimately and potently connected with the affairs of the county and the country in general adjacent to our borders until now he has grown venerable in the service and the silver threads remind that the toils, hardships and vigils are nearer done and victory is at hand.

In Cole county, Missouri, in the year 1829, commenced the pilgrimage of our subject and five years before the memorable "Forty-nine," accompanying his parents, he came overland with teams. While enroute to the Willamette valley, they camped on the present site of Lagrande, but continued their journey until they had reached their destination in Yam Hill county, where the parents, Samuel and Susana H. (Collett), settled to make an honest living from the soil, and there they toiled and fought the battle of life until the time of home going came, and they rest peacefully beneath the sod there to-day. From his portion of the estate, our subject erected a monument to their memory. Until twenty-three years of age, Abraham remained with his parents and then took a donation claim for himself and wrought as an agriculturist for two years, his claim being in the edge of Polk county and consisting of three hundred and twenty acres. Like many who have made the most sterling successes and wrought on the most substantial achievements, he began to turn his mind to the acquiring of an education rather late, as it appears to some. He was twenty-five when he fully decided that he was called to the ministry and then he went to the Willamette University and commenced a course of preparation for his life's work. Well and faithfully he toiled until he had a fair education and then commenced the grand calling of telling out the gospel. His instruction had largely been under President F.S. Hoyt, D.D., and President T.M. Gatch, and the course was completed in 1862. In 1874 he joined the East Oregon and Washington conference, now known as the Columbia river conference, the noted and widely known H.K. Hines being presiding elder. He served Union, Lagrande, Milton, Canyon City and Centennial charges, buckling on much of the time the harness of the real circuit rider, which worthy character is less seen now than one could wish. In 1884, his Alma Mater, conferred upon him the degree of A.M., and the same year Bishop Fowler transferred him to the Idaho conference and appointed him to the Boise City district, the leading district of the conference. Following this he served in Umatilla, Canyon City, and various other places until three years, since when he deemed that it was time for him to retire from the more arduous and active duties of his work and so settled in Lagrande upon property that he had bought in 1880. He is on the superannuated list and is content to pass the remainder of his days in the quiet retreat that he has prepared for himself wife who has been his constant companion during the years of service in the fore front of the battle in promulgating the gospel of the grace of God.

In was in 1874 that the marriage of Mr. Eads and Miss Emily, daughter of George and Elizabeth (Saxby) Killich, natives of England, was celebrated. Mrs. Eads had come to this country to visit her sister, Mrs. Henry Hall, near Prairie City, Grant county, and there the marriage occurred. Mrs. Eads has shared in the toil and service of her husband being the true and Christian helpmeet and gracious lady, which character has always been exemplified in her life. The golden years of the noble and faithful preacher of the gospel are beginning to run apace and in conformity to the teachings of the Master of whom he has told for these years, he is rounding out his life with faithful testimony and praiseworthy deeds.

At Elgin, Kane county, Illinois, Robert Eakin was born in 1848, being the son of Stewart B. and Catherine (McEldowney) Eakin, natives of Ireland. In 1866 the family removed to Willamette valley and settled at Eugene, Lane county, the parents remaining their until the time of their death. Robert entered the Willamette University at Salem, at the age of twenty-one, and began the study of law. With the characteristic pluck and grit of his race, he made his own way through the university by teaching and acting as assistant in the office of the surveyor of the county. In 1873, he took his degree from the university and in the following year he was admitted to the bar, and in 1875 he came to Union and located. From his advent into the county he took an active part in politics, serving for many years a chairman of the Republican county committee. In February, 1895, the eighth judicial district was created and Mr. Eakin was appointed by Governor Lord as judge. In June of the following year the people elected him for a term of six years in the same office, where he is at the present time. The decisions of Judge Eakin have been marked and clear cut ever adhering to the line of justice and equity, and he is highly respected by all and universally beloved as man of fearless impartiality and a stanch champion of the principles of truth.

In 1876 the marriage of Robert Eakin and Miss Mary, daughter of M.E. and Rebecca (Stowell) Walker, early pioneers to Eugene, was celebrated, and the union has been blessed by the following issue: Ethel, who died in 1878; Georgie B., aged nineteen; Robert S., Gertrude M., Harold C. The judge is affiliated with the Masons, Lodge No. 56. He has a fine residence in Union and is a highly honored member of the bar.

We are made aware of the stanch integirty and intrinsic worth of our subject when we learn that is birthplace was Scotland, having come of a sturyd family of fine quality and ability. The year of his birth was 1860, and his parents, William and Sarah (Hutchinson) Eccles came to Ogden, Utah, in 1864. The father was a master workman at the turner's lathe and in the quiet and steady pursuit of this industry he occupied his time and gained meawhile the high estimation of his fellows and rose to prominence in his church, that of the Latter Day Saints. His ability and integrity are manifest, and he is entrusted with responsible functions in these relations. Our subject faced the world at the time of his majority, being girded for activity and soon we find him in the lumber business, in which capacity he straighway rose to prominence and amassed a property that was commendable and gratifying. At the present time he has large interests in Utah, Oregon and Washington, and is a controlling factor in much of hte manipulation of this mammoth industry. The tireless energy and bright talens of Mr. Eccles were not satisfied with this triumph in one line of industry, but he has added to this that he is treasurer of the Sumpter Valley Railroad, making him prominent in the circles  of the controllers of the O.R.&N.R.R. In the electric system of Baker City Mr. Eccles has a large interest. But in the manufacture of the staple product of sugar Mr. Eccles has gained a prominence that stamps him as a leader in no uncertain terms. He is manager of the Oregon Sugar Company at Lagrande, but in addition to this he also has large interests in factories at Logan and Ogden, Utah. The combined output of these large factories gives Mr. Eccles, with his associates, the control of such a large quantity of this product that he is recognized as no mean antagonist in the markets of the land. In the circles of his church he has been favored with the confidence nad esteem of his fellows in a marked degree, being connected with the leading and progresive movements of hte church and always laboring for its welfare and interests.

The marriage of Mr. Eccles and Miss Marion; daughter of Hans and Marion Schow, was consummated in 1884 and they have been blessed by the advent of the following children: William, Pearl; Arnold, who passed away in 1901 and is buried in Ogden; Roland, celia, Irma, Marion, Walker and Thelma. Mrs. Eccles parents came to Utah in an early day and were in the memorable party known as the Hand Cart Company. They are prominent members of the church of the Latter Day Saints or Mormon church. We are favored in the person of Mr. Eccles by one of the foremost men of the county, having been a leader in every enterprise that he has taken up, and to his efforts are due much of the progress and prosperity of our county to-day, having given his widom and energy in unstinted measure to the advancement of the same. In uprightnes and stanch principles of worth as well as in amiableness he has always excelled and has gained the high regards of all.

Many of our most thrifty and leading population came from the land with which we are most intimately connected, England, and there was born the subject of this sketch on September 23, 1839, being the son of John and Martha (Thorpe) Eckersley. In Lancashire the family remained until 1848, when the father came to the United States, settling in Pittsburg, Pennsylvania, and there the remainder of the family joined him in 1853. In 1856 they went to Iowa and the father bought one-half section of land, remaining there for two years, then he returned to Pittsburg, where in 1863, he was called from the scenes of earth. The mother died in 1857. In 1860 our subject went to Colorado, engaging in mining near Leadville, California Gulch and other points and then returned to Iowa, where he remained for a time and then fitted out teams and crossed the plains to eastern Oregon, taking up packing and teaming to the mining town of Auburn, operating largely also from Umatilla Landing to Boise, Basin and other mining points. In June, 1863, he came to the Cove and made that his headquarters while he was teaming, wintering his stock there. In February, 1869, he sold the teams and bought a farm of one hundred and sixty acres, three and one-half miles north of the Cove, and there took up the life of the general farmer. Soon he purchased eighty acres more adjoining his original farm, and he gave his attention principally to raising hogs, and strawberries and other small fruits. He was attended with prosperity here and continued steadily at the same work until 1895, when he sold the entire farm and bought twenty acres in Cove. He has improved this in good shape and raises small fruits, together with some winter apples. He cultivates three acres to strawberries and ships his products to all points.

The marriage of Mr. Eckersley and Miss Mary L., daughter of Jesse and Elizabeth Owensberg, was solemnized on July 14, 1870, and to them have been born seven children, part of whom are living, as follows: Estella, wife of E.B. Conkling, of Pendleton; Edwin, in the drug business in Idaho; Hattie teaching school in Baker county.

In political matters Mr. Eckersley takes the part of the good citizen, but never presses for personal preferment. In 1896 he was the nominee on the Republican ticket for the legislature, but at that election his ticket was defeated. He is one of the substantial and enterprising citizens of the county, who has by his uprightness and faithfulness commanded the respect and won the esteem and commendations of his fellows.