San
Joaquin County
Biographies
HENRY CHRISTOPHER BECKMAN
One of the most prominent
agriculturalists and business men in Lodi is Henry C. Beckman, a man thoroughly
conversant with all departments of that greatest of California industries, agriculture. A native of the state, he has given his best
years and most generous efforts to the welfare of his particular lines of
business and the advancement of all interests of the public and state. He resides on his fine estate near Lodi,
which is also his birthplace. He was
born on August 23, 1867, a son of Christopher and Mary (Langhorst)
Beckman, both natives of Westphalia, Prussia, Germany. His father, Christopher
Beckman, was thrown upon his own resources at an early age and learned the
practical lessons of life by experience and actual contact with affairs, so
that he deserved the more honor for his success. In 1849 accompanied by a younger brother,
Henry, he sailed from Bremen, Germany, and in about fifty-five days landed in
Baltimore. After a short time in
Pennsylvania they moved to Wisconsin, where he was employed in the pineries and also in steamboating
on the Mississippi River. His father,
William Beckman, had joined them; and in 1853, with his father and his brother,
he crossed the plains with ox-teams and wagons.
They were over six months en route, and on their arrival took up their
residence in San Joaquin County. He
located on the ranch now owned by our subject and farmed until the time of his
death. His widow survived him for twenty-one
years. They were the parents of three
children, but only one son, Henry C., the subject of this sketch,
survives. Christopher Beckman became a
very prominent citizen of his locality, where he served for several years as
trustee of the Henderson school district.
In politics he gave his support to the Democratic Party, and fraternally
he was a member of the Masons at Lodi.
He was a respected member of the German Lutheran Church at Stockton. Christopher Beckman died on April 27, 1890,
and his wife on April 25, 1911 and both were buried on April 29, twenty-one
years apart, in the Woodbridge Cemetery.
Henry C. Beckman grew to manhood in
his native county and received his education at the Henderson district school
and the San Joaquin Valley College at Woodbridge. His fine home place near Lodi, consisting of
400 acres, is the old home place. Here
he built a fine residence in 1902, one of the most commodious and pleasant
rural homes in the locality. He also
owns the Thomas Yolland place of 400 acres.
On May 20, 1896 at Woodbridge, Mr.
Beckman was married to Miss Jessie Spenker, a
daughter of Joseph and Anna (Schliemann) Spenker,
natives of Mecklenburg-Schwerin and Holstein, Germany, respectively. Joseph Spenker was
reared on a farm and came to America in 1854, landing in New York, where he
remained three days. He then spent a few
years in traveling, settling finally in Illinois. From there he started for California in 1859,
crossing the plains with ox-teams and arriving at Murphy’s Camp on September
16, 1859. By hard work and economy he
became, within a few years, a large landowner and a prominent citizen of San Joaquin
County. Mr. and Mrs. Beckman are the
parents of three children: Anita, Vera
and Joseph C.
Since the organization of the First
National Bank of Lodi, Mr. Beckman has been a member of the board of directors,
and he is now service as a vice-president of this institution. Until the World War, Mr. Beckman had
supported the principles of the Democratic Party, but now he is an ardent
believer in and supporter of the Republican Party. In 1890 he was made a Mason in Lodi Lodge No.
256, F. & A. M. The family are members of the St.
Peter’s Lutheran Church in Lodi. There
is no more loyal citizen of San Joaquin County than this native son, who favors
progressive measures and gives active cooperation to many movements for the public
good. His name has thus become a synonym
for patriotism in citizenship, for straightforward dealing in business, and for
reliability in friendship.
Transcribed by V. Gerald Iaquinta.
Source: Tinkham, George
H., History of San Joaquin County, California , Page
1327. Los Angeles, Calif.: Historic
Record Co., 1923.
© 2011 V. Gerald Iaquinta.
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