Biography of Louis F Eck, Bowie County, Texas *********************************************************** Submitted by: Texarkana USA Genealogical Society Date: Oct 2000 Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/tx/bowie/bowitoc.htm *********************************************************** The below sketch (A Pioneer Family) was written some years ago and was given to the Texarkana Genealogical Society for reprint by the granddaughter of Mr. Eck, Mrs. Helen Fouke Weeks of Texarkana, who incidentally was also the granddaughter of Mr. George William Fouke (lumberman from whom the name of Fouke, Arkansas was named). Her father was Harry P. Fouke. The lovely two story home on Pecan street is now part of Beech Street Baptist Church. It stood at 521 Pecan Street. Mr. G. W. Fouke was also president of Shreveport & Natchez Ry. Co. during 1899-1900. Both the two homes of Mr. Louis F. Eck and Mr. George W. Fouke had two living rooms, two dining rooms, and two kitchens, so Mrs. Weeks gave summery of. She remembers the families going to New York and securing fabric for the massive windows of the homes. Another interesting note from the past was the place of business of Mr. Eck and his partner Mr. Humphry, as it stood where the building we speak of as "Old Bryce's Cafeteria" building in today. As of the old city directory 1899-1900 listed Mr. Eck as "broker" 211 State. State Street was later changed to Main Street. This was earlier before their move to Pine Street. **************************************************************** A Pioneer Family Mr. Louis F. Eck was born in St. Louis, MO. In 1846. In June 20, 1867 he married Flora E. Collins in St Peters Church, Collinsville, Illinois at Pontifical High Mass. Mrs. Eck was a convert at 18 years of age, but Mr. Eck was a Catholic from birth and received his education at the Jesuit College in St. Louis, MO. Exactly 50 years later, they returned to Collinsville and in the same church renewed their marriage vows at High Mass and was attended by the sons and nephews of the friends who were his attendants at their marriage. Shortly after their marriage, they resided in Holden, Missouri and Mr. Eck entered into partnership with a Mr. Davis and carried on a mercantile business for several years. After being forced out of business by the perfidy of his partner, they decided to come south and try their fortune in a new country with Mr. Eck's sister and brother-in-law, Captain and Mrs. John H. Hunter, who had preceded them several years before and persuaded them to come and join them. They came by boat to Jefferson, Texas, and then by wagon to Rocky Comfort, AR (a few miles from what is now Forman AR) and then the county seat of Little River County. He again entered into a partnership with Mr. Humphry and started a general mercantile business which was the center of the business and political life of that country. A great deal of their business relations were with the Indians and mostly barter transactions. They bought and sold great quantities of cotton and shipped from Fulton, AR. Mr. Eck understood and could speak fairly well five different languages, and it was not difficult for him to pick up the Indian dialect enough to understand them and make himself understood by them. He made many friends among the Indians and they realized they could depend on fair treatment from him which was not always the case in those days after the war, especially on one occasion when had exposed and upbraided some men who were stealing the Indians wares and not giving them fair value in return. Naturally he incurred their hatred and was warned by the Sheriff to be on his guard, and who gave him a gun to protect himself and told him to always carry it. Mr. Eck, however, was not afraid of any thing (having lived a long life without owning a gun) and went as usual to his place of business through woods having only a bridle path, when on day this man stood in his path with a gun raised to shoot him when the Sheriff, who had followed, arrived just in time to prevent a tragedy. Mr. and Mrs. Eck took up a homestead of 160 acres on which they built a log hut which served for sleeping quarters and as usual in those days, about 100 yards away another small hut for kitchen and dining room. This home they called "Elms" after their two oldest daughters. They lived about a quarter of a mile from their nearest neighbor, and Mr. Eck's place of business was a mile distance. Here they spent, perhaps, the happiest part of their lives, but also many trials and privations and sorrows such as the pioneers of this section experienced. Mrs. Eck had never been away, and of course, used to the ordinary comforts of life, but here were the mere necessities, hard work, loneliness, and fright from the wild animals who wandered and howled about the house at night while she prayed and waited for Mr. Eck's return. The tale of one occasion when riding home on his horse through the woods, his horse shied and nearly threw him and there almost above his head was a panther. All he could see was his eyes. This was only one of many experiences. A Catholic Church was built some years before the War, constructed of logs, which was destroyed by the soldiers when marching through that section. After the arrival of Mr. Eck and with the assistance of Captain Hunter (his brother- in-law), Dr. Josephy Eck, (his brother), Mr. George Taafe, Mr. Bird, and many other, this little church was rebuilt and still stands on a hill in a beautiful setting with the cemetery just back of it, and services are still held there each Sunday. Mrs. Eck made the altar linens and some vestments out of some linen sheets which were her wedding presents, and Mrs. Hunter gave her wedding dress for the same purpose. A priest from Hot Springs, Father Garrity, made this trip on horseback twice a year, making his home at Mr. Eck's for two weeks or more and gave the comforts of their religion to the little flock there. Mr. and Mrs. Eck lived at Rocky Comfort for above five years. About this time, Texarkana was talked of as the coming town of that section and the Eck's decided to move where there would be better advantages for their children. They came from near today's Forman to Texarkana by wagon, being a two day journey. This was in 1876. Their first residence was in Arkansas. They then moved to Third and Spruce where they lived while they were building their home at 321 Spruce Street. (the old home is today a vacant lot). From the first, their interest in the religious, civic, and social life of the town was foremost, and it was always this example they set before their family. Their first effort was to build a church and a school for their children. The first church was built where the Sacred Heart Church now stands. It was two story and served for both church and school. Mr. Eck's efforts were untiring, working always, giving tirelessly of his energies and finances. He was not of the nature to let the left hand know what the right hand gave, but he was always there to give and to teach his children to give. Mrs. Eck was organist for many years, often playing with a child on her knees, and both sang in the choir, Mr. Eck a tenor and Mrs. Eck , alto. There was no activity in the church they were not engaged in. Mr. Eck for many years was secretary of the church books, and in charge of the cemetery, and served on the school board of both Catholic School and the Public School and was City Alderman from Ward One for may years. He was City Auditor for at least thirty years, and when there were any questions of justice his advice was always sought. He was always a friend of the poor man and believed where he will be remembered longest and where he did the greatest service to his country was the interest he took in the strangers who came to this country. He was always ready to explain the ways and laws of this country and seemed to take great pains to gain the confidence of these people, and never was content until he had secures naturalization papers for them. Besides her duty as mother to a large family, Mrs. Eck devoted her energies to her church and to the nursing and care of the sick friends around her. Her greatest desire was to serve God in the Sanctuary and was Sacristan until the last few years when the younger members have graciously undertaken the work. She was housekeeper for the early Pastor's of the Sacred Heart Church, and all visiting priests and didters found a welcome in her home. Mr. Eck died Deptember 20, 1920; but Mrs. Eck at the age of 86 years (her age at the time of this writing), is still an active member of the Sacred Heart Church.