• Parents given as Wm. R. Eckart, born Ohio, and Eleanor Carlisle, born U.S.A.402

• Upon the death of my mother in 1854, at Cleveland, Ohio, I was sent to Chillicothe to live with her relatives, my father moving to Zanesville. This broke up my home, as far as my parents were concerned, when I was about thirteen years of age.408

• U. S. S. Narragansett, Acapulco
Sept. 5th 1861
Hon. Gideon Welles, Secretary of the Navy
Sir -
Enclosed I forward my letter of acceptance to the position of 3rd Asst. Engineer in the U. S. Navy, also my letter of Citizenship, and Oath [of] allegiance, being the first opportunity that I have had of so doing since I received them.
I am respectfully,
your Servant
William R. Eckart, Jr.
3rd Asst. Engineer
U. S. Navy409

• To Hon. Gideon Welles, Secretary of the Navy
Sir -
I herewith desire to tender to you my resignation of the position of 3rd Asst. Engineer in the Navy.
I am urged to this course by the following considerations: during the thirty-two months which I have served in this Squadron, I have been upon the “Sick List” nearly one year both on board of the FlagShip “Lancaster,” and this vessel, and it will be seen by the letter of the Medical Officer of the Narragansett, which I enclose, that there is no immediate prospect of entire recovery. I therefore respectfully solicit the early action of the Department upon my communication.
I am very respectfully,
Your obd Servent,
William R. Eckart
3rd Asst. Engineer U.S.N.410

• Steam in the Chronicle Office.
Today the [Vallejo] DAILY CHRONICLE is printed by steam. We judged it to be an important event in the history of Vallejo enterprise when less than two years ago the proprietor of this establishment introduced a poser press to accommodate the rapidly increasing circulation of the CHRONICLE, but since that time his business has been increased so wonderfully, that he will now have four presses driven by steam. In fact, steam, or some other motor other than human muscle, had become a necessity to accommodate the business of the CHRONICLE office, and he feels a natural pride in being the first party to introduce it into a Vallejo printing office. Our engine is a neat and compact six-horse power, built at the Union Iron Works, San Francisco, from drawings made by W. R. Eckart, and is in every respect a complete piece of machinery. The shafting and hangings are from the Foundry and Machine Works of Heald & McCormick, Vallejo, who have made an admirable job. Hereafter we shall be able to expedite the issue of the CHRONICLE, and accommodate patrons with the delivery of job work at an earlier time than formerly. The machinery may be seen at work after three o’clock in the afternoon.411

• SERENADE. The National Brass band serenaded Mr. Eckart and his bride last evening, thus welcoming them home from their bridal tour. Mr. Eckart responded handsomely, taking the boys to the Dawson House, where they indulged in champagne and other good things.412

• A NARROW ESCAPE. — The Oroville Record, of the 17th instant, says on Friday night of last week, Mr. W. R. Eckart, of the Marysville Foundry, had a narrow escape from assassination in Oroville. It seems that a company of Chinamen in the Lava Beds, had purchased some machinery from the Marysville Foundry, and by some means, had got the idea into their Celestial heads that they were being cheated by the interpreter who had made the purchase for them, and Mr. Eckart came to Oroville to settle the matter. The Chinamen seemed to think that he was in with the interpreter, and bad feeling was engendered against them. At night as he was standing on the corner of Montgomery and Huntoon streets, a Chinaman passed and struck him with a knife. The blow was aimed at his heart, and given with much force. Fortunately it struck a large and thick memorandum book in the breast pocket of his coat, which proved sufficient to check the progress of the knife. Such was the force of the blow, however, that the point of the knife penetrated the cover of the book, passed through several letters enclosed in the book and penetrated several leaves. The Chinaman escaped in the darkness. It is understood that the interpreter knows the perpetrator of the dastardly attempt to assassinate Mr. Eckart, but does not know of his personal whereabouts.
Source: Newspaper clipping, dated 1873, probably Marysville newspaper; in same style as “SERENADE,” above.

• Statement of Services as a Mechanical Engineer
Was born in Chillicothe, Ohio June 17th, 1841; graduated from St. Clair Street Academy, Cleveland, Ohio, as a Civil Engineer. Served a regular apprenticeship with Griffith, Ebert & Wedge, Zanesville, Ohio, as a machinist, and afterwards worked as a journeyman and draughtsman in their establishment.
At the breaking out of the war, entered the Navy as Engineer, July 8th, 1861, serving in that capacity on various government vessels until 1864, when my resignation was tendered and accepted, then entered the employment of H. J. Booth & Co., proprietors of the Union Iron Works, San Francisco, Cal. as assistant draughtsman, serving them afterwards as their Chief Draughtsman, Foreman, and Superintendent.
In May 1867 was duly examined as to my qualifications and licensed to act as a 1st class Chief Engineer in the Merchant Service (license No. 25, 1867). Same has been renewed on application in 1871 and 1875. After leaving the Union Iron Works in 1869, entered the employ of the U. S. Government at Mare Island, Cal. as Foreman, and was soon afterward appointed Superintendent of Steam Machinery where I remained until leaving to enter as partner in the Marysville Foundry January 8th, 1872 with my former employer. Where we are now carrying on the business of manufacturing mining and marine machinery under the firm name of Booth and Eckart.
Was educated as a Civil Engineer, at the St. Clair Street academy in Cleveland, Ohio - was admitted as an Associate to the Institute of Naval Architects in 1869.
W. R. Eckart407

• Evening Chronicle
VIRGINIA CITY, NEV.
Per Week 25 cents.
WEDNESDAY JANUARY 23, 1878
The Fulton Foundry.
The Fulton Foundry is now under the Superintendency of Mr. Eckart, formerly of San Francisco, and is prepared to furnish drawings, estimates and specifications in mechanical engineering, and especially in the construction of steam engines and boilers of all descriptions, wire rope, transmission pumping machinery, etc. All kinds of machinery, in fact, can be made here in the best style, and Mr. Eckart’s wide reputation as a practical engineer is such as to give patrons solid assurance that their orders will be satisfactorily filled.413

• AN APPOINTMENT –– W. R. Eckart, Superintendent of the Fulton Foundry, has been appointed Deputy United States Mineral Surveyor for this State. Now he will be “monarch of all he surveys” and “his right there will be none to dispute.”414

• A New Iron Steam Yacht for Lake Tahoe -
The Carson Flume and Lumber company have decided to build a new iron steamer to be used in connection with their extensive lumber business on the lake. Their fleet heretofore has consisted of the the iron steamer “Meteor,” the wooden boat “Emerald,” and such other boats as the necessity of their extensive business has compelled them to charter during their busy season. The “Meteor” was the first iron screw yacht ever constructed on the Pacific Coast, and has proved herself after two years’ trial, as being the staunchest and fastest yacht ever built in the United States, having made upon numerous occasions over twenty-one miles per hour to the proof and satisfaction of many doubting experts, who can believe nothing but what they see and try themselves...
The boat as well as the machinery will be built from the designs and specifications of Mr. Eckart, Superintendent of the Fulton Foundry of this city, also the construction engineer and designer of the “Meteor” which has given such satisfaction to the company.415

• AN UNPLEASANT EXPERIENCE
A Traveler Having to Wait for a Bed
Until a Corpse was Removed From It.
W. R. Eckart, of San Francisco, is still in town. He had a somewhat unpleasant experience at Pocatello, at which place he had to stop over one night on his way here. After some delay he was shown to a room at the railway hotel, and although the thermometer registered a long way below zero, he found the windows wide open and the room looking anything but cheerful. After having the windows closed and the lamp lighted, he remarked that there was a large number of medicine bottles in the room; and after getting into bed he became painfully aware of the fact that the air was strongly impregnated with the fumes of carbolic acid. The night being extremely cold, he drew the bedclothes over his head, when he found the carbolic was stronger in bed than anywhere else. Visions of small pox at once floated through his brain, and he came to the conclusion that some one from California with that disease had occupied the bed; but knowing that if such was the case the danger was already done, and he would gain nothing by leaving bed, he lay quiet and went to sleep. In the morning he asked Boniface for an explanation, and was informed that a railroad man who had had his legs crushed had been occupying the room. Mr. Eckart said he hoped the gentleman had not been disturbed on his account. “Oh, no” said my host, “he died at 5 o’clock yesterday evening, and his body was sent east.” This, of course, accounted for the delay in giving him the room.
Source: Newspaper clipping, dated Jan 1888, probably local Anaconda newspaper

• SUBMARINE BOAT.
SHE MAKES A REMARKABLE SHOWING.
Considered to be Absolutely Safe — The Vessel Dives Beneath the Water.

GREEN POINT, (N. Y.), Sept. 22. — The submarine torpedo-boat Holland made a remarkable good showing on her practice run today, and aside from the regular run of a mile under water at a uniform depth of seven feet, discharged a regulation Whitehead torpedo such as is used in the Navy. The trial lasted one hour and a half. W. R. Eckhart, [sic] consulting engineer of the Union Iron Works, San Francisco, took the plunge in the Holland. The torpedo, when discharged, took a downward course and struck the bottom fifty feet from the bow. The cause of the deflection of the torpedo off its course was thought to be the disarrangement of the mechanism. Otherwise the trial was most successful. Afterward the Holland, with Mr. Eckhart aboard, made a deep dive, completely submerging the flags, which are ten feet high. Five minutes later she came to the surface.
Eckhart said he considered the boat absolutely safe and practical, and would prefer being aboard the Holland when submerged than in the fireroom of any surface torpedo boat.
Source: Newspaper clipping. Source and date unknown.23

• “W. R. Eckart, veteran construction and mechanical engineer, A. M. Hunt and W. F. C. Hasson, electrical engineers, served as consultants during the building of the plant. L. M. Hancock was the engineer in charge.” Nevada County Power Co. “Work on the Nevada power plant started with a rush July 5, 1895.” “Despite the obstacles, the Nevada power plant was finished in seven months. Power flowed into Nevada City in Feb. 1896; to Grass Valley, a month later. Initial installed capacity was 300 kilowatts, soon to raised to 1,200 kW.” (pp. 128-135)
Eckart was “In charge of design and construction of mechanical and hydraulic equipment” of Electra Powerhouse built by Prince André Poniatowski and his Standard Elec. Co. of California (inc. Nov. 27, 1897, W. Vir; reincorporated in Calif. Feb. 7, 1899). Poniatowski (first under Calif. Exploration Co, inc. April 1896 succeeded by California Exploration, Ltd, inc. 1898) optioned several mining properties in Amador County and needed electricity to develop and operate the mines. Local supplier was Blue Lakes Water Co. (org. 1887 by W. Frank Pierce to build “a pipeline from Amador Co. to Oakland to supply 17,500,000 gal of water daily”). He negotiated with Pierce to supply electricity and financed ($122,500) the construction of the Blue Lakes Powerhouse (450 kilowatt generators) “on an old millsite on the Mokelumne River 5 miles from Jackson, where water could be dropped 1,040 feet from the Amador Canal...” The plant began operating October 25, 1897. After this project Poniatowski conceived of a larger power plant which would be able to serve San Francisco, 143 miles away. He visited the Blue Lakes Region to examine the potential water resources including engineering data, water storage capacity, size of dams, and estimated costs. He estimated that the power plant would have to generate as much as 15,000 kwatts. This project was too big for his company so, working with W. H. Crocker, developed a plan of financing which included the formation of the Standard Electric Co. of Calif. The Blue Lakes Powerhouse was operated successfully until Nov. 1, 1899, when fire destroyed construction of the Electra Plant "the last word in design and construction." Chief Engineer, “Dr. Frederick A. C. Perrine, first professor of electrical engineering at Stanford Univ. and later pres. of the Stanley Elec. Mfg. Co.” was responsible for the design of the electrical parts of the project and for the transmission system. “Associated with him were Frank G. Baum, brilliant Stanford engineer, and A. C. Bunker, young electrical engineer who had had experience with the Stanley Electrical Co., manufacturers of Electra’s generating equipment. Engineers C. P. Gilbert and C. H. Ellison were members of the extensive staff.” “In charge of design and construction of mechanical and hydraulic equipment was veteran W. R. Eckart who had a broad background of experience in mining and hydraulic work. He was an engineering officer of the Navy in the Civil War. He had designed the first locomotive built in Calif. by Peter Donahue’s Union Iron Works. He designed and built for the Bliss family the steamer Meteor which was operated for years on Lake Tahoe. At Virginia City he had been Consulting engineer for Mackay, Flood, O'Brien and Fair in the Comstock mines, installing high-pressure pipe lines to lift water from the lower workings to the surface by huge Cornish pumps.”416,417, p 167

• “Deep Mining Work In The Comstock Lode,” by W. R. Eckart, M. E.
The following contribution to the “Report’s” efforts to bring about the drainage of the Comstock mines and the resumption of the deep mining therein, through advanced methods and the use of the most improved appliances is from the pen of W. R. Eckart, M. E. Mr. Eckart’s article is exhaustive and comprehensive, and coming from such a leading authority is sure to have great influence upon the mine engineers of the Comstock, who are now ascertaining the best means of draining the mines and searching for new bonanzas at greater depths.418

• Excerpts from letter from John W. Mackay to William Roberts Eckart, 17 Aug 1899:
Prince Poniatowski, wired me last night, that you were coming with him to New York, and would be at the Waldorf on Monday. I am sorry I will not be here when you arrive, as I should have liked to talk with you on several topics. I am going to Idaho, with another party, where we have been prospecting mines for some time, and will probably arrive in San Francisco in about two weeks.419

• The Pitot tube used during the tests was designed and constructed by Mr. William Roberts Eckart, M. I. Mech. E.175, p 8

• When the history of engineering on the Pacific coast comes to be written it will not be complete unless the work of W. R. Eckart occupies the large place in the book that it occupies in fact and in the experience of his contemporaries. Mr. Eckart has been honored by membership in the following societies: American Society of Civil Engineers since 1881; American Society of Mechanical Engineers since 1882 -- vice president from 1883 to 1885; The Institution of Mechanical Engineers, London, 1878; Society of Naval Architects and Marine Engineers, 1893; American Society of Naval Engineers; Associate Member of The Institution of Naval Architects, London.161, p 157

• [excerpt] Eckart was always on the firing line of progress and delighted in nothing more than in dealing with new and difficult problems. He was eminently a student in his manner of handling them, and spared no pains in insuring a sound foundation for his proposed solution or mode of treatment. He was notable as a collector of books and professional literature and of fine precision apparatus used in engineering measurements; was a member of many engineering societies and technical organizations, and occasionally contributed papers of value to their transactions. In 1872 he married Harriet Louise Gorham; to them were born three sons and one daughter. After a long period of failing health, during which he retained his keen interest in engineering, he died in Palo Alto, Cal., at the home of his eldest son.420

• William Eckart Dies at Ripe Old Age, Was Former Resident of Marysville and Had Wide Reputation As An Engineer
William R. Eckart, a brother of George R. Eckart of this city, died at Palo Alto Tuesday evening at 8 o’clock. He had been ill for some time and heart trouble was his ailment.
Deceased made his home in San Francisco until about a year ago, when he moved to Palo Alto. He was a former resident of Marysville and in the seventies was the proprietor of the Marysville foundry. Leaving Marysville he was form many years mechanical engineer for the Union Iron Works, and designed the engines of the famous old battleship, Oregon, and other ships built by this concern. After he retired from this position he entered the employ of the United States Government and was the representative of the government on all types of government boats. For the past number of years he was the consulting engineer for a number of large electrical and other corporations and had a national reputation as an electrical and mechanical engineer.
His wife, who survives him, was Miss Hattie Gorham, a former Marysville girl, and the daughter of the late Charles M. Gorham, who was for a number of years the mayor of this city. Deceased at the time of his death was coiner in the United States Mint at San Francisco.
Deceased will be buried today at Palo Alto. He was seventy-three years old.404

• Together with his half-brother, Isaac Roberts Eckart, portrayed in Allen Smith, Jr. painting, dated Cleveland, 1843. Portrait now [2004] hanging in home of Dave & Gretchen Mills, Scottsdale, Arizona.421

• Cannot find William Roberts Eckart in 1870 or 1880 censuses.

• 1850 Census: Chillicothe, Ross, Ohio. Age 9, b OH.422
• 1860 Census: Zanesville, Muskingum, Ohio. Age 18, b OH. Machinist.423
• 1900 Census: San Francisco, San Francisco, California. Age 59, b Jun 1841, OH. Mechanical engineer. Father b Canada (Fr); mother b OH.185
• 1910 Census: San Francisco, San Francisco, California. Age 68, b OH. Consulting engineer. Father b Canada; mother b OH.424

• The Eckart portrait, depicting Isaac Roberts Eckart and his half-brother, William Roberts, was appraised at $1,000.00 insurable value in 1974.425

• New York trained artist, Allen Smith, Jr. settled in Cleveland, Ohio in 1841, having been in New York City from 1830, and swiftly rose to prominence as a portrait and genre painter. Like all artists, he suffered greatly during the Panic of 1857, and this circumstance forced him to take a job in James F. Ryder’s studio where, according to his employer’s advertisements, he produced the “best oil painted photographs in Ohio.”426

• 1878 Virginia City, Nevada
ECKART W. R., superintendent Fulton Foundry, 360 South C, res Wilmott House427
• San Francisco, 1881
Eckart, William R. (Salkeld & Eckart), r. 611 Bush428
• San Francisco, 1889-91
William R. Eckart, civil and mechanical engineer, 217 Sansome, rooms 2-3; r. 2906 California429
• San Francisco, 1902, page 613
Eckart, William R, mech. engr. Nevada Block, r. 3014 Clay.47, p 1
• San Francisco, 1902 Blue Book, page 157
Mr. and Mrs. W. R. Eckart, 3014 Clay189
• San Francisco, 1906
West 66. Eckart, W. R..........................Res 3014 Clay.430
• San Francisco, 1906 Blue Book
ECKART, Mr. and Mrs. W. R.; 3014 Clay (T. West 66) 2 & 3 Friday47, p 2
• San Francisco, 1910 Blue Book
p. 17: 3014 Clay St., Mr and Mrs W. R. Eckart
p 63: ECKART, Mr. and Mrs. W. R., 3014 Clay St.47, p 2

• During his days of apprenticeship Mr. Eckart made numerous trips at the trial of new river boat engines and this awakened in him a desire to enter the government service as a naval engineer. At the outbreak of the Civil war he successfully passed the examination before the board of engineers, winning highest rank at that date. He was appointed third assistant engineer July 30, 1861, and ordered at once to join the fleet of naval vessels on the Pacific coast. While thus serving in the San Francisco harbor he met, and won the friendship of, a number of California’s most eminent men in the engineering profession. Mr. Eckart had been mustered into the United States naval service as third assistant engineer on the Narragansett which was commanded by Commander S. E. Woodworth and was attached to the Pacific squadron under Commodore Charles H. Bell. On the 3d of December, 1862, he was transferred to the Lancaster under command of Commodore Joseph Lannan, of the Pacific squadron, and on the 23d of November, 1863, was returned to the Narragansett. The Narragansett and the Lancaster cruised up and down the Pacific waters along the coast of the United States, Mexico, the Central American states and South America, visiting the ports of San Francisco, Panama, New Grenada and Callao, doing patrol duty and protecting the interests of this country during the Civil war.
Ill health at length forced Mr. Eckart to resign and he was honorably discharged at San Francisco, March 2, 1864.161, pp 153-4