Los Angeles County
Biographies
DR.
WESLEY WILBUR BECKETT
BECKETT, DR.
WESLEY WILBUR, Physician and Surgeon, Los Angeles, California,
was born in Portland, Oregon,
May 31, 1857. He is a son of Lemuel D. Beckett, the first Justice of Peace of Portland,
Oregon, and a pioneer of that State, and
Sarah S. (Chew) Beckett. On January 1,
1882, he married Iowa Archer at San Luis Obispo,
California, there being two sons as a
result of the union: Wilbur Archer and Francis H. Beckett.
Dr. Beckett was
educated in the public schools of California, and at a
later period taught school in San Luis Obispo County,
California, for over six years. He graduated from the Los Angeles Medical
Department of the University of California,
April 11, 1888, receiving the degree of M. D. He then studied in New York
for a period of one year, taking post graduate work at the Post
Graduate Hospital
of that city.
After completing
his medical education, Dr. Beckett returned to Los Angeles,
where he has practiced for a period of over twenty-two years. His medical achievements follow one after
another, and today his accomplishments in the medical and scientific world have
reached a point where Dr. Beckett is recognized as a man of national repute. His researches in the field of surgery and materia medica have placed him
among the foremost physicians in the country.
Dr. Beckett’s
principal work has been in the field of surgery, although he has maintained a
general practice since he first opened his offices. During his years of practice he has been a
constant student and has taken an active part in the medical history of Southern
California. He is noted for
his readiness to devote his time to the needy poor, having done brilliant work
for many poor people. His work in the
field of charity deserves much praise.
Not only in the
medical work, but in civic affairs as well, has Dr. Beckett played a leading
role during the last twenty years. In a business way he is associated with a
number of influential companies of Los Angeles
and holds directorships in a number of organizations. He is not only an executive director, but is
also medical director of the Pacific Mutual Life Insurance Company, is
treasurer and director of the California
Hospital and is a director in the
following organizations: Pacific Mutual Indemnity Company, Citizens’ Trust and
Savings Bank, Seaside Water Company, Orwood Land
Company and the San Pedro Water Company.
He is a member of
and ex-president of the following professional societies: California
State Medical Society, Southern California Medical Society, Los Angeles County
Medical Society, and the Los Angeles Clinical and Pathological Society, and is
a member of the American Medical Association and the Pacific Association of
Railway Surgeons. During the years of
1901 and 1902 he served as a member of the Los Angeles City Board of Health.
On May 12, 1911,
Dr. Beckett was appointed by President Taft First Lieutenant of the Medical
Relief Corps of the United States Army.
This position will not become an active office unless the United
States is at war or unless some deadly plague gets a hold
in the army, but at the same time it is a unique distinction, approved by the
President of the United States
and passed through the Senate.
Dr. Beckett is
also Professor of Gynecology and Surgery of the Los Angeles Medical Department
of the University of California. He is a trustee of the University
of Southern California and is
active in educational circles. His work
is not limited to any field, but is known to every progressive movement for the
advancement of his community. He is a
member of the California,
Federation and Union League Clubs of Los Angeles and of the Bohemian Club of
San Francisco.
Transcribed 12-29-08
Marilyn R. Pankey.
Source: Press
Reference Library, Western Edition Notables of the West, Vol. I, Page 155,
International News Service, New York, Chicago, San Francisco, Los Angeles,
Boston, Atlanta. 1913.
© 2008 Marilyn R. Pankey.
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