My Genealogy Hound

WILLIAM COLLINGWOOD ECKER, brick-contractor, post office Hulton, was born in Pittsburgh, Feb. 27, 1848, son of Emanuel and Mary (White) Ecker. His father was a brick-contractor, and settled in Pittsburgh in 1832, retiring from business several years before his death, which occurred in November, 1884, when he was seventy-three years old. Among the many good buildings he erected are the Monongahela House, city hall and the Eleventh ward schoolhouse. Our subject’s paternal and maternal grandfathers were Baptist ministers. William C. has four brothers, all of whom are brick-contractors; also two sisters, both married. He received his education in Pittsburgh, and Feb. 22, 1863, he enlisted in Co. H, 1st battalion, 13th U. S. I., serving three years in the regular army. His company was consigned to the 15th army corps, under Gen. Sherman, and at the close of the war was sent to Jefferson Barracks, at St. Louis, then to Leavenworth, Kan., and to Fort Cook, M. T., at the time of the Sioux war. Mr. Ecker was discharged at Fort Benton, and returning to Pittsburgh he engaged with his father in bricklaying for eight years. He then began contracting alone, and has built many fine buildings in Verona and other places. He married, April 27, 1868, Jennie Blose, a daughter of Daniel and Martha (St. Clair) Blose, old settlers of Armstrong county. They have seven children: Carrie Blose, Clifford St. Clair, Ada Rosamond, Samuel Ralph, Charles Stanley, William Collingwood and Martha St. Clair. Mrs. Ecker and Miss Carrie are members of the U. P. Church, where the latter is one of the leading singers in the choir.