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 (Part 1 of 3) 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. **************************************************************** USGENWEB ARCHIVES NOTICE: These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or presentation by any other organization or persons. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material, must obtain the written consent of the contributor, or the legal representative of the submitter, and contact the listed USGenWeb archivist with proof of this consent. ****************************************************************