John T. Beckett has been a
resident of Clayton county from the time of his
nativity and owns and resides upon the fine old
homestead farm, in Clayton township, which figures as
the place of his birth and which under his energetic
and judicious management has been made one of the
well improved and valuable landed estates of the
county.
Mr. Beckett is a scion of
staunch English stock in both the paternal and
maternal lines and was born in Clayton on the 25th of
December, 1863, when he became a right welcome
Christmas arrival in the home of his parents, Peter
B. and Charlotte A. (Wayman) Beckett, both natives of
England. He whose name introduces this article was
the fourth in order of birth in a family of four
sons, of whom three are living. Peter B. Beckett was
born on the 25th of October, 1821, and was reared and
educated in his native land, where his marriage was
solemnized. In 1852 he came with his young wife to
the United States and they passed the first year in
the state of Ohio. They then established their
residence at Decatur, Illinois, where Mr. Beckett
entered the employ of the Illinois Central Railroad
Company, in the service of which he continued until
1854, when he removed to Beloit, Wisconsin, where for
a short interval he was engaged in the manufacturing
of brick, after which he was for two years a
representative of agricultural enterprise in that
vicinity. During the ensuing year he was engaged in
farming in Boone county, Illinois, and he then, about
the year 1858, came to Clayton county, Iowa, where he
turned his attention to the butchering business, of
which he was a pioneer exponent and with which he
continued his identification for a few years. He then
purchased a tract of land in section 34, Clayton
township, where he reclaimed and developed a
productive farm and where both he and his wife passed
the remainder of their long and useful
lives—sterling citizens to whom came a merited
prosperity and the greater reward of the confidence
and good will of the community in which they long
maintained their home. Mrs. Beckett was summoned to
eternal rest in 1894 and her venerable husband passed
away in 1901, their remains resting side by side in
the cemetery at Clayton. Both were reared in the
faith of the Church of England and their lives were
guided and governed by the Christian principles which
they thus professed.
John T. Beckett was reared
to adult age on the farm which he now owns and
operates, and in the meanwhile he gained due
reinforcement for the battle of life by attending the
common schools of the locality in which he gained the
education that proved ample foundation for the
broader and more practical discipline that has come
to him through association with men and affairs in
later years. Shortly after attaining to his legal
majority he rented the old homestead farm, and later
he purchased the property, which comprises one
hundred and fifty-six acres and upon which he has
made many excellent improvements of permanent order.
This is one of the good farms of the county and it
has been the stage of his well ordered activities
during his entire adult career, the while he is known
as a progressive and successful representative of
agricultural and live-stock industry in his native
county as well as a loyal and steadfast citizen who
is well upholding the honors of the name which he
bears.
He is now serving his second
term in the office of township trustee, was treasurer
of his school district for some time, and is aligned
as a staunch supporter of the cause of the Democratic
party. He is affiliated with Oakleaf Camp, No. 2875,
Modern Woodmen of America, at Clayton, in which he
has passed various official chairs, and both he and
his wife hold membership in the Christian Science
church.
In the year 1892 was
solemnized the marriage of Mr. Beckett to Miss
Caroline Allen, who likewise was born and reared in
this county and who is a daughter of Hans and Anna
(Olson) Allen, both of whom were born in Norway,
whence they came with their parents to the United
States when young. Mr. Allen became one of the
substantial farmers and highly esteemed citizens of
Clayton county and here his death occurred in 1896,
his wife still surviving him. Mr. and Mrs. Beckett
have two children: Leslie, who is now employed at
Elkader, the county seat, and Veva A., who is
attending the McGregor high school.
source: History of
Clayton County, Iowa; From The Earliest Historical
Times Down to the Present; by Realto E. Price,
Vol. II; pg. 32-33
-OCR scanned by S. Ferrall
