Gaston, Joseph.  "The Centennial History of Oregon, 1811-1912."  Vol. 4. 
Chicago, Clarke Publishing Co., 1912. p. 324.
 
HON. HENRY BECKLEY

     On the roll of the honored citizens of Douglas county appears the name of
Henry Beckley, who during his lifetime figured actively in connection with
business affairs and with public interests that have constituted. elements in
the growth and prosperity of the state and in the establishment of its political
status. Mr. Beckley came to the Pacific coast from the middle west, his birth
having occurred in Switzerland county, Indiana, January 4, 1833. He was seven
years of age when, in 1840, his parents removed to Polk county, Missouri, where
he was reared to manhood on a farm. In 1853 he came west to Oregon, crossing the
plains with an ox team. On his arrival in this state he located at Yoncalla,
Douglas county, but the following winter was spent in the mines at Yreka,
California, where he met with fair success.
     In 1864 Mr. Beckley was united in marriage to Miss Mary M. Woodson, a
native of Benton county, Missouri, and a daughter of Jesse and Verlena (Linn)
Woodson, who crossed the plains to Oregon in 1850 and spent the succeeding
winter in Portland, whence they removed to Douglas county in the spring of 1851,
locating at Yoncalla. After the marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Beckley they began
their domestic life on a ranch near Elkton, on the Umpqua river, there residing,
until 1895, when Mr. Beckley retired from active business and took up his abode
in the city of Elkton. For many years he had capably and successfully carried on
farming and stock-raising on an extensive scale. In business matters his
judgment was sound, his discrimination keen and his enterprise unfaltering. As
the years passed he won a gratifying measure of prosperity, his judicious
investments making him the owner of twenty-five hundred acres of valuable land.
In 1973 he organized a stock company capitalized at twenty thousand dollars and
built the Elkton Saw & Flouring Mills. Subsequently he became sole owner of the
mills, which he operated very successfully until they were destroyed by a flood.
In 1870 he was elected county commissioner of Douglas county and was
instrumental in securing many needed improvements for the county during his term
of office. In 1876 he was chosen to represent his district in the Oregon state
legislature, serving for one term with credit to himself and satisfaction to his
constituents. He carefully considered every question which came up for
settlement and his support of any measure indicated his firm belief in its
advocacy as a factor for good government or public improvement. In 1892 he was
nominated and elected to the state senate and at the close of his term was
reelected for a second term, this vote indicating his personal popularity and
the confidence reposed in him by the general public. He was a stanch democrat in
politics and for years was an influential factor in the councils of his party.
For several years he held the office of postmaster at Elkton and discharged the
duties of that minor position with the same fidelity and promptness that
characterized his work as a legislator. While residing in Elkton he also engaged
in merchandising, controlling commercial interests in addition to his extensive
landed interests.
     Unto Mr. and Mrs. Beckley were born thirteen children, ten of whom still
survive, namely: John W.; James H.; Verlena M., who married Philip Pinkston;
Charles L.; Pitzer W.; Mary J., the wife of Orange Mattoon; Jesse L.; Clyde P.;
Claude R.; and Orval S. Mrs. Beckley resides in a handsome residence in Elkton
and is very prominent socially. She is a member of the Christian church and is a
lady whose many excellent traits of character have won her high and enduring
regard. Mr. Beckley died at The Dalles, Oregon, while en route to Missouri, on
the 17th of September, 1898. Through all his life he left no duty undone, no
task neglected. He realized and met his responsibilities and his obligations to
his family, to his friends and to his country. There was nothing spectacular in
his entire career but his faithfulness and fidelity to every trust were features
that made him one of Oregon's most honored citizens.


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Submitted to the Oregon Bios. Project in June 2008 by Diana Smith.  Submitter
has no additional information about the person(s) or family mentioned above.