WILLIAM BECKMAN

      An enumeration of those men of the present generation who have won honor and public recognition for themselves, and at the same time have honored the state to which they belong, would be incomplete were there failure to make prominent reference to the one whose name initiates this paragraph.  He has left his impress indelibly upon the political history of California, as well as upon the business life of the capital city.  He has been and is distinctively a man of affairs, and one who has wielded a wide influence.  A strong mentality, an invincible courage, a most determined individuality have so entered into his make-up as to render him a natural leader of men and a director of opinions.  As the president of the People's Savings Bank of Sacramento, he is an important factor in financial circles, and his management of this institution reflects credit not only upon himself but also on the city of his adoption.

      Mr Beckman is a native of the Empire state, his birth having occurred in Herkimer county, New York, on the 19th of December, 1832.  He is of German parentage, and during the infancy of their son William, the parents removed to Illinois, locating on a farm in Du Page county.  There the subject of this review spent his early boyhood days, becoming familiar with all the duties and labors that fall to the lot of the agriculturist. He assisted in the work of the fields through the summer months and  attended the district school of the neighborhood in winter seasons until fourteen years of age, when he left the parental roof to enter upon an independent business career.  He has since been dependent upon his own efforts, so that the success he has achieved is the merited reward of his enterprise and diligence.  His life demonstrates most forcibly the possibilities that are afforded young men of ambition and energy in a land where honest effort is unhampered by caste or class.  He began earning his own living in the humble capacity of stage-driver and was thus employed until 1851.  Two years previously gold had been discovered in California, and the state still offered an excellent field to those who wished to avail themselves of the opportunity of making money rapidly.  With the hope of bettering his financial condition, therefore, Mr. Beckman started for California, arriving in Sacramento in January 1852.

      Through the following summer he worked in the mines in Trinity county and in 1853 he became the proprietor of a hotel in Sacrmaneto, sucessfully conducting that enterprise for five years. In 1857 he took up his residence upon a farm near Florin, in Sacramento county, where he lived for fifteen years, devoting his energies to agricultural pursuits, and making his place one of the most valuable and highly improved farming properties of the locality.  He also engaged extensively in stock-raising, making a specialty of hogs and cattle. In 1879 he became connected with the banking interests of Sacramento, being elected the president of the People's Savings Bank on its organization.  He has since served in that capacity, and under his able management it has become one of the leading and reliable institutions of the state.  Its business policy is marked by a safe conservatism in loans and investments and from the beginning prosperity has attended the enterprise.

      In 1876 Mr and Mrs. Beckman went abroad, spending two years in Europe, during which time they visited most of the places of historic and modern interest on the continent and in Great Britain, together with the most famous scenes of the Old World.  In 1900 they again visited the Old World, visiting the Paris exposition and other places of interest. A volume is now being printed giving the personal experiences and times of interest as gleaned by Mrs. Beckman while abroad.  They are people of refinement, holding an enviable position in the social circles of Sacramento.

      For many years Mr. Beckman has taken a deep an active interest in political affairs, and keeps well informed on the questions and issues of the day. While residing upon his farm he served for ten years as a member of the county board of supervisors, representing the fifth district.  In 1875 he was the Republican nominee for state treasurer, but the entire ticket was defeated.  He however, received ten thousand more votes that the candidate for governor.  He served for three years as the fire commissioner of Sacramento, and in 1890 was elected one of the railroad commissioners of the state, in which capacity he served for four years. He is a man of unassailable integrity, and no trust reposed in him, whether of a public or private nature, has ever been betrayed.  In his business he has manifested a far-seeing judgment, indomitable resolution, and marked enterprise--qualities which always insure success and which have made him one of the most prosperous citizens of Sacramento.  At all times his career has commanded uniform confidence and respect, and today he stands among the honored and eminent citizens of the Golden State.

 

Source: “A Volume Of Memoirs And Genealogy of Representative Citizens Of Northern California” Standard Genealogical Publishing Co. Chicago. 1901. Pages 277-279.

 

Submitted by: Betty Tartas.