BIO: John G. Eckman, Wyoming Conference, Methodist Episcopal Church, PA & NY

Contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by 
Judy Banja & Denise Phillips

Copyright 2007.  All rights reserved.
http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm
http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/pafiles.htm
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Chaffee, Amasa Franklin. History of the Wyoming 
Conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church. 
New York: Eaton & Mains, 1904, pages 179-180.
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  ECKMAN, JOHN G., D.D., was born near Sunbury, Northumberland County, 
Pa., on October 7, 1836, and died in his home in Scranton, on August 
10, 1898.
  He was converted in his boyhood, and immediately joined the Methodist 
Episcopal Church at Sunbury.  The Church recognized his gifts and gave 
him exhorter's and local preacher's licenses before he was eighteen 
years of age.
  He attended the Genesee Wesleyan Seminary, at Lima, N.Y., for a time, 
then pursued studies privately at home, taught school some, and for a 
season engaged in the photographic business, before giving himself to 
the Christian ministry.
  In 1859 he supplied the Stoddartsville Circuit, and in 1860 joined 
the Wyoming Conference, receiving his first appointment to 
Stoddartsville.
  His executive and legislative ability was abundantly recognized by 
his brethren in the Conference in their electing him delegate to the 
General Conferences of 1876, 1880, 1884, 1888, and 1896.  The bishops 
chose him, with W. H. Olin, D.D., to represent Wyoming Conference in 
the anniversary Christmas Conference held in Baltimore in 1884.  
Syracuse University conferred the degree of D.D. upon him in 1896.
  On September 25, 1856, he married Miss Margaret L. Hile, of Sunbury, 
Pa.  Four sons were born to them, one of whom is a physician in 
Philadelphia, Pa., and another, Rev. George Peck Eckman, D.D., is now 
pastor of St. Paul's Methodist Episcopal Church, of New York city.  His 
wife and sons survive him.  His body was laid to rest in the Dunmore 
Cemetery.
  His pastoral record is as follows:  1859, supply at Stoddartsville; 
1860, Stoddartsville; 1861-62, Lehman; 1863-64, Plymouth, Pa.; 1865, 
Northmoreland; 1866-68, Ross Street, Wilkes-Barre; 1869-71, Waverly, 
Pa.; 1872, Ashley; 1873-76, Presiding Elder on Chenango District; 1877-
79, Adams Avenue, Scranton; 1880-83, Presiding Elder on Binghamton 
District; 1884-86, West Pittston; 1887-91, Kingston; 1892, Honesdale; 
1893-98, Presiding Elder on Wyoming District.