JAMES ECKENROAD, Huntington, Indiana.
It is a long, hard climb from the bottom of the ladder to the top, but the history of James Eckenroad shows that he has successfully made the ascent, and now occupies a place on the topmost round in his chosen calling. His birthplace was North Jackson, Mahoning County, Ohio, and he was one of five sons. His father died when he was two years old, and thus he was deprived of a father's advice in his boyhood days. After leaving school at the age of 14, he was employed in various capacities with an oil company in Pennsylvania, finally running a stage between Oil City and Pithole. Pennsylvania. He began firing on the Oil Creek Railroad in 1867, and after a year's service in that capacity was promoted to engineer. For three years he ran a freight engine on the 0. C. R. R., and then he left that road for service on the Alabama Great Southern. After two years' work in Tennessee with the A.G.S. he returned north and was employed by the Dunkirk, Allegheny Valley & Pittsburg Railroad, running freight between Dunkirk and Titusville, Pennsylvania. He remained with the D., A. V. & P. R. R. until 1882, when he accepted a place on the Chicago & Atlantic, which was then extending its western branch. He was assigned to the work train, and with headquarters at Hammond assisted in the construction to North Judson. He has been with the Erie seventeen years, and he has been promoted from one run to another until now he has charge of the fastest run from New York to Chicago. Letters of commendation from the road's officials attest their appreciation of his careful and efficient service on this important run.

Mr. Eckenroad was married in 1876 to Miss Julia Murphy, only daughter of Bartholomew Murphy, of Warren, Pennsylvania. Mrs. Eckenroad's father still lives in the old home at Warren, Pennsylvania. The union has been blessed with two children, both sons: Henry, 21 years of age, is employed as a machinist in Huntington shops; Paul J., 17 years old, is a bookkeeper employed in Youngstown, Ohio. Mr. Eckenroad's standing both as an engineer and a citizen is of the very highest, and the home property he owns in Huntington is one of the nicest in the city.

Excerpted from: "American Locomotive Engineers, Erie Railway Edition," H.R. Romans Editor; Crawford-Adsit Company Publishers, Chicago, IL 1899.

Ex-Engineer J.H. Eckenrode has many friends among the fraternity from Chicago to New York, who will regret to hear that this grand old man of early Erie days is a victim of mental paresis, which has reached a stage of chronic imbecility. In his day Mr. Eckenrode was considered a most reliable and speedy engineer, and has an excellent record to his credit. Several years ago he lost a limb while in the line of duty, and his misfortune, and a later siege of sickness, superinduced by melancholia, affected his mental facilities. From this his present hopeless condition has grown.

Ex-Erie engineer James Eckenrode died at his home in Huntington, IN June 1 (1908). James Eckenrode came to the Chicago & Atlantic, now C&E, as engineer in 1882. About seven years ago he retired from road service and took up shop and yard service on account of physical disabilities. Several months subsequent to retiring from road service he became mentally afflicted, due, it is thought, to brooding over the loss of his place on the road. His mentality gradually declined until he became wholly incapable of caring for himself, in which condition he lived for several years. Thus ends the earthly career of a man who was prominently identified with the history of the Chicago & Erie Railroad from its beginning, who did much to aid the success of the road, and whose services were of a character to call forth encomiums from the management at different times during his active career. No more genial or better-liked engineer than Jim Eckenrode ever held a place on the roster of his profession. This was obvious from the tender care and solicitude shown him by the fraternity throughout his pitiful affliction. Mr. Eckenrode's death is mourned by a wife, two grown sons and a wide circle of friends and acquaintances.

From the July, 1908 issue of Railway Engineers' Journal (BLE):
Brother James Eckenroad of Division 221, Huntington, died June 1, 1908 of an apoplectic stroke.