Sacramento County
Biographies
CHARLES M. BECKWITH
To many the attainment of material
prosperity proves a severe temptation to relax the vigilance previously
exercised over the natural inclination to enter upon a worldly career and place
in the background the finer virtues, chief among which is altruism. To
Mr. Beckwith, however, the struggle for a place among the most influential
members of the legal profession in Sacramento served as an impetus to further
arouse his sympathies for mankind in general and his determination to do all in
his power to disentangle the legal problems of those who appealed to him, his
chief concern being not the financial reward he might receive, but the true
service he might render.
Mr. Beckwith is a native son, his birth
having occurred June 28, 1863, in Woodbridge, San Joaquin county,
where he received his preliminary education. Later, he attended both
private and public schools in Lodi, after which he entered Oberlin college, Oberlin, Ohio, graduating in 1884. His
father, F. Marion Beckwith, was born in 1830, in Mentor, Ohio, and immigrated
to California in 1849 in company with his brother, DeWitt Beckwith, and other
colonists, many of whom desired to enter the mines of Eldorado
county rather than resume their former occupations,
believing that the gold fields offered the shortest route to wealth.
Many, however, soon abandoned the role of Argonaut, and, satisfied that
the west held many opportunities for those who possessed perseverance, settled
in various sections. Upon his arrival in California, Mr. Beckwith
proceeded at once to San Joaquin county, where he
combined mining and farming with fair success until his death in January,
1863. Five months after his father's death, Charles Beckwith was born,
his mother, formerly Miss Betsey L. Quiggle, of
Hampden, Ohio, exerting every effort thence-forward in the interests of her
child. Until he was seven years old he received the benefits derived from
the atmosphere of love and tenderness created by his loving mother, but her
death at that time caused him to go to his uncle, Byron D. Beckwith, at Lodi,
Cal., who reared him to manhood, guiding him through his formative and
educational period until he reached the age of twenty-one. His influence
left a deep imprint on the boy, who developed a nature of rare truth and
sympathy, and it is the ambition inspired by this uncle's love and devotion,
his careful training and self-sacrifice, to which he owes his success in after
life--the inspiration gained from his noble life and worthy example. Upon
his return to San Joaquin county after his course at Oberlin college,
Charles M. Beckwith worked at various occupations for a year, going thence to
Tulare county, where he engaged in farming and stock raising. Two years
later, having decided to enter the legal profession, he took up the study of
law in Stockton, soliciting insurance during his spare time. Having
completed his course, he was admitted to the bar by the supreme court of
California at Sacramento, November 14, 1893, and immediately established
himself there in business, building up a practice of importance. He has
not only a large clientele among the substantial citizens of the county, but
also in various counties of the Sacramento and San Joaquin valleys.
Mr. Beckwith's first marriage occurred in
Sacramento, November 22, 1895, uniting him with Mrs. Annie M. (Ross) Hurd of Sacramento, who passed away December 31, 1907,
leaving a son by her former marriage, Horatio Hurd,
of Sacramento. On October 31, 1908, he married Miss Bess M. Blake, whose
birth occurred in New Hampshire, and whose father, C. W. Blake, makes his home
with them. Mrs. Beckwith is in full sympathy with her husband's interests
and aids him immeasurably by her tact and comradeship. He was made a
Mason in 1884 in Woodbridge Lodge No. 131, F. & A. M., of Woodbridge,
retaining his membership in the lodge where his father and uncle were
members. By his prompt, decisive action and excellent judgment he has won
the esteem of many friends and associates, who predict for him a future
commensurate with his unquestioned ability.
Transcribed by Sally Kaleta.
Source: Willis,
William L., History of Sacramento County,
California, Pages 782-783. Historic
Record Company,
© 2006 Sally Kaleta.