undated obituary from Flora, Indiana, newspaper: "PROMINENT GERMAN CITIZEN DIES HOME IN THIS CITY. "Lee Eckerle, the well known German blacksmith and one of the most highly esteemed residents of the city, died at his home on South Division street Thursday morning at 4:30 from cancer of the bowels, after an illness which began last holidays. He had been enjoying excellent health for one of his age until then and was, apparently, destined to enjoy many happy years more. His decline has been very marked. While at times he seemingly improved a little, the general tendency was down, down, to death. He realized for several months that his case was a hopeless one and had long ago made every arrangement for his departure. While waiting for the end he bore his sufferings with great patience and christian fortitude, and when the flickering spark of life went out early Thursday morning, Flora lost one of her best citizens. "He was of that industrious, honest and frugal German stock whose word was as good as his bond. His promises did not need to be in black and white. They were good in the absence of all proof. His genial good nature will be missed in the home, the church and society. "Leopold Eckerle, of a family of eleven brothers and sisters and three half-sisters, was born near the River Rhine in Germany November 15, 1836. He came with other members of the family to America, casting a last look back on his birth place Christmas Day, 1854. "He came first to Cincinnati, where he worked for about three years in the blacksmith ____s. The environments of his surroundings were a little too tough for him and in October, 1856, he 'hiked' over into Union county, Indiana, where he obtained a job with a country blacksmith, named Mallory. He could not speak the English language and the job was obtained by signs and showing 'the boss' what he could do with his hammer. "On March 20th, 1862, he was married to Nancy June Mallory, a daughter of 'the boss' who taught him to read and write English. He later started a shop of his own with only his honesty behind him, Lybrooks, Harts and Allens of that neighborhood staking him and taking their pay in work. He soon built up a big business and made money. It was here that his eight children were born and was perhaps the time that was looked back on in his declining years. In 1874 the family moved to Cass county and from there to Flora in 1898. "The first wife having died, he married Justine Smith in Cass county in 1883. She survived but a few years, after _______ _____________________________ Elizabeth Bechtelheimer August 14, 1894. "After coming to Flora, he followed his trade until about three or four years ago, when he retired from what was a large business, leaving it to his son, William. His frugality had made him independent and he retired that he might enjoy the few remaining years of his life. "He had been a member of the Church of the Brethren since 1868, and a deacon in the church since 1880, and one of the pillars of the church. "He is survived by three sons, Frank of Lanark, Ill; Charlie, of Oak Park, Ill; and William of Flora; and three daughters, Mrs Allen Snyder and Mrs Dennis Murphy, of Deacon; and Mrs E L Colvin, east of Bringhurst. They are also 18 grand- children and 1 great-grandson. "The funeral will be held at the Church of the Brethren tomorrow, Sunday morning, at 9:30 o'clock, by Rev G B Heeter, of Burnetts Creek. Interment in Hoover's Cemetery in Cass county." **************Need a new ride? Check out the largest site for U.S. used car listings at AOL Autos. (http://autos.aol.com/used?NCID=aolcmp00300000002851)