My Genealogy Hound

Judge Henry Seckman was born in Prussia in 1838, and is a prominent farmer and stock-raiser of Rock Township. He is the only surviving child born to Mority and Elizabeth Seckman, who came to New Orleans in 1840, from there to Warren County, Mo., and one year later settled in Washington, Franklin County, where the father died, about 1852. The mother died at the home of her son Henry, in Jefferson County, about 1881. The father was a carpenter by trade. Henry Seckman was educated at the Washington schools, and also spent two years at the public schools in St. Louis. From 1875 he served five years as an apprentice at stair-building, which he followed from that time until 1871 on his own responsibility, meeting with good success, doing work in Kansas, Indiana, Tennessee, Missouri and other States. In 1861 he enlisted in Company A, of Fremont’s Body Guard, and served until November of the same year, participating in the battle of Springfield. In 1863 he married Miss Elizabeth Reckman, a native of Galena, Ill., and the daughter of Francis and Mary Reckman. Her father was a native of Switzerland, who came to the United States when a young man, was married in St. Louis, but afterward moved to Galena, Ill., where he passed his last days. The mother then returned to St. Louis, and here died in 1862. Seven children was the result of Mr. Seckman’s marriage, five of whom are now living: William, a carpenter of St. Louis; Viola, Frank, Warren and Edward. In 1884 Mr. Seckman was elected county judge of the First District and re-elected in 1886, with a greatly increased majority, being the first Republican to hold that office for a good many years. He is a man of good judgment and ability, and an earnest worker for the welfare of the county and of the Republican party. His first presidential vote was for Lincoln. He is a member of the Masonic fraternity.