Biographical sketch extracted from:

Biographical and historical record of Adams and Wells counties, Indiana.
Chicago: Lewis Publishing Co., 1887. p. 1009.

GRAFTON ECKHART, farmer and stock-raiser, was born near Logan, Hocking County, Ohio, April 22, 1826, son of Anthony and Catherine (Sheetenhelm) ECKHART, who were natives of Maryland, and of German ancestry. They were among the early settlers of Hocking County, having entered land there. The father held many local offices of trust and responsibility, and served as county assessor under the old constitution. He also served as magistrate many years. He was a soldier in the war of 1812. Anthony and Catherine ECKHART were the parents of eleven children, of whom six are living, The father died March 18, 1859, at the advanced age of eighty-nine years, and the mother died April 18, 1860. Our subject was reared on a farm in his native county, and at the breaking out of the Mexican war he enlisted in Company D, Second Ohio Infantry. He was in the battles of Matamoras and Buena Vista. After the expiration of his term of enlistment he returned to his native county, and was married September 21, 1848, to Priscilla Mathias, daughter of Abraham and Christina (Zellers) Mathias, who were natives of Pennsylvania. Abraham Mathias was a son of Jacob Mathias, who was born in New York, four weeks after his parents landed in New York. Christina Mathias was a daughter of Jacob Zellers, a native of Pennsylvania and of German descent. After his marriage Mr. Eckhart settled upon a farm three miles west of Logan, where he followed farming until the spring of 1882, then removed to this county and purchased his present farm. Of their eight children, five are living: William O., of this county; Margaret Ann, wife of Patrick Kern, of this county; Martha Ellen, at home; Laverna Elizabeth, a teacher in the public schools of Liberty Township; James Jacob. Mr. Eckart has a fine farm of 115 acres adjoining the village of Liberty Center, in a good state of cultivation. Himself and wife are members of the United Brethren church.