San
Joaquin County
Biographies
HENRY
H. BECKMAN
HENRY H. BECKMAN, a farmer near Lodi, was born in Prussia,
near Bremen, March 13, 1834, his parents being William and Wilhelmina
Beckman. The father was a farmer by
occupation and one of Bonaparte’s soldiers, and after he was captured he fought
for Blucher, He died in 1868. Henry was
raised on a farm in Prussia. His mother
having died when he was only three years old, he was put out among strangers,
and remained thus until fifteen years old.
In 1848 he came to America, in company with his brother, Christopher,
sailing from Bremen and landing in Baltimore.
They went to New Haven, Pennsylvania, thence to Illinois, where they
remained a year, working most of the time at farming for $65 a year and
board. Then they were for a time engaged
in lumbering and farming in Wisconsin.
In the spring of 1853 they came to California, crossing the plains with
ox teams. They arrived in Stockton after
a journey of six and a half months.
After being here a year they settled on the land where his brother
Christopher now is, in Elkhorn Township.
They remained there ten years, making improvements, and in 1859 they divided
up the land. In 1859 Henry purchased his
present ranch, which is located about twelve miles from Stockton, and two Miles
from Lodi. He is one of the enterprising
farmers of this township, now owning about 1,000 acres of land, well improved,
with substantial buildings, which show neatness and order.
In 1868 he was married to Miss Margrate Toni, a native of Switzerland. They have four children, viz.: George V.,
Theodore H., Frank W. and Eva M., all at home.
Mr. Beckman is a member of the Masonic fraternity of Woodbridge, No.
131, and of the Woodbridge Grange, Of which he was a
charter member. Politically he is a
Democrat. He is a steady, industrious
man, kind to his family, and respected by all.
Transcribed
by: Jeanne Sturgis Taylor.
An
Illustrated History of San Joaquin County, California, Pages 489-490. Lewis Pub. Co. Chicago,
Illinois 1890.
© 2009 Jeanne
Sturgis Taylor.
Golden Nugget Library's San Joaquin County
Biographies
Golden Nugget Library's San Joaquin County
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