George M. Eckle is the secretary and treasurer of the F. E. Spencer Company of New Haven, distributors of paints and oils. This is one of the oldest enterprises of the kind in Connecticut and its success at the present time is attributable largely to the enterprising efforts of Mr. Eckle, who has proven a man of sound judgment and keen sagacity, readily discriminating in all that he does between the essential and the nonessential.
     He was born in New Haven, December 9, 1859, and attended the Trinity parish school and a public night school. His initial step in business was made in March, 1873, as errand boy in the employ of F. E. Spencer & Company, and since that date he has worked his way steadily upward through various departments until he is now a large stockholder, the managing director and the secretary and treasurer of the company. They are among the oldest dealers in paints and oils in Connecticut, the business having been founded by F. E. Spencer, now deceased, in the early '60s. His widow, Mrs. Sarah E. Spencer, is the president of the corporation at this time. Mr. Eckle's connection therewith covers forty-five years. No higher testimonial of capability or fidelity could be given than the fact that ho was retained in the employ of the company without interruption and ultimately admitted to a partnership. He is thoroughly acquainted with the business in principle and detail, and knows every phase of the work. The house is conducting a large business and its success is based in very substantial measure upon the efforts, the enterprise and the sagacity of Mr. Eckle.
     Mr. Eckle was married to Wilhelmina Hugendubel, and they have four children. George A., now his father's assistant in business, was educated in the New Haven public schools and married Catherine Gorman, by whom he has two children, Catherine and Reta. Carl W., who completed a course at Yale in 1908, married Grace Spreyer, and has three children. Grace, Carl and Helen. John N., who attended the New Haven schools and was graduated from Sheffield School of Yale with the class of 1910, is now a first lieutenant in Company F, One Hundred and Second Regiment, United States Infantry, and is on active duty with his regiment.  Nina is the wife of H. G. Wells, of East Orange, New Jersey, and they have one child, Harold.
     The family attend Trinity Episcopal church and Mr. Eckle belongs to Humboldt Lodge, No. 191, I. 0. 0. F., while his Masonic connections are with Anawan Lodge, No. 115, F. & A. M.; Joseph Andrews Chapter, E. A. M.; and Crawford Council, E. & S. M. He votes independently, not caring to be bound by party ties. He is a self-made man in the truest and best sense of the term, and his advancement is attributable in a large measure to the fact that he has never dissipated his energies over a broad field but has concentrated his efforts along the line in which he embarked as a young tradesman. Thorough mastery of each day's task has brought power and inspiration for the labors of the succeeding day, and every forward step which he has made has brought him a wider outlook and broader opportunities.