John Eckhoff Pages 221, 222 JOHN ECKHOFF, one of Crockery Township’s progressiveagriculturists and a representative farmer of Ottawa County, was born in Germanyon the 20th of December, 1835. His parents, John and Margaret(Ehlers) Eckhoff, were both natives of Germany, and there resided until death. Atailor by trade, the father followed that occupation for many years in hisnative land, accumulating a goodly store of the material blessings of this worldthrough diligent effort and perseverance. He and his wife were honorable andupright in their relations with all whom they met, and were prominent in theEvangelical Church, of which they were devoted members. The second of a family of five children, the subject of thisbiographical notice was educated in Germany, where he remained until he wastwenty-two years of age. Emigrating thence to the United States, he proceeded atonce after landing to Michigan, where he settled in Ottawa County and has madehis home here ever since. Soon after the opening of the Civil War, hissympathies, aroused on behalf of the Union, and with all the ardor and zeal of anative-born son of America, he enlisted as a member of Company G, Twenty-firstMichigan Regiment, the date of his enlistment being August 11, 1862. For twoyears and eleven months he served with conscientious devotion, and at the closeof the war he was honorably discharged, July 5, 1865. Among the engagements in which Mr. Eckhoff participated may bementioned the battles of Perryville and Stone River. In the last-namedengagement he was wounded in the muscles of his left arm, and at the same timewas taken prisoner, being conveyed to Murfreesboro, Tenn., on the last day ofthe year 1862. On the 3d of January, 1863, he was paroled, but was unable toleave the hospital for some time thereafter. Upon his recovery he wastransferred to the Veteran Reserve Corps, in which he served until the close ofthe war. On account of the wounds received while in service, he is granted apension of $8 per month by the Government. Very soon after his return from the war, Mr. Eckhoffestablished domestic ties, being married August 31, 1865, to Miss MargaretSimms, who was born in Germany. The union has resulted in the birth of elevenchildren, as follows: John Henry, Fred W., Andrew E., Mary M., Charles M.,Henriette L., Anna A., Lewis A., Minnie D., Jessie C. and Archie L. In the fallof 1865, a few weeks after his marriage, Mr. Eckhoff purchased a farm of onehundred and twenty acres of unimporved land in Crockery Township, and here hehas since made his home, meanwhile clearing the land and placing it under a highcultivation. The place is pleasantly located within five miles of Spring Lake. Since casting his first Presidential ballot for AbrahamLincoln, Mr. Eckhoff has uniformly maintained the principles for which theRepublican party stands. He has served Crockery Township as Highway Commissionerand has also officiated as Constable. In his social connections, he isidentified with the Grand Army of the Republic, being a member of the post atNunica, No. 435. He is also a member of the Spring Lake Lodge No. 234, A. F.& A. M. With his wife he holds membership in the Evangelical Church, and isprominent in all the benevolent enterprises originated by that denomination.

Portrait & Biographical Record of Muskegon & OttawaCounties, Michigan 1893, Chicago: Biographical Publishing Company

Transcriber: Susan Gates Davis
Created: 31 March 2003
URL: Return to Bios Index