To: KYF Subject: Beckham.J.C.1840.Shelby.BIOS J.C. Beckham November 30 1840 - Shelby County KyArchives Biography Author: W.H. Perrin, J.H. Battle, G.C. Kniffin HON. J.C. BECKHAM was born in Shelby County, KY., November 30, 1840. He is descended on the paternal side from Scotch-Irish ancestry, his grandfather, Abner Beckham, being one of the early settlers of Culpeper County, and in 1817 immigrated to Shelby County, Ky., where he engaged in farming operations the remainder of his life. He married Nancy, daughter of John and Winnifred (Hardin) Netherton, also of Shelby County, and at his death left his family well provided for, having by industry and economy accumulated a large estate. The subject of this sketch passed the early years of his life on his father’s farm, where he acquired those habits of industry and application which have since proven so much benefit to him in the vocations of his life. His primary education was obtained at the common schools, which existed in the locality of his father’s home, and at the age of seventeen he was able to enter Shelby College at Shelbyville, which was at that time an institution of high character. He went through the regular curriculum o the college, and after graduating with the degree of bachelor of arts, entered upon the study of law at the Louisville Law College, where he received the degree of bachelor of laws in 1867. In March of the same year he was duly enrolled as an attorney o the Shelby County bar, and, locating at Shelbyville, began the regular practice of his profession. By close attention to business and careful study he soon acquired an extensive and remunerative practice, and earned a place in the front rank of the successful lawyers of the State. In 1874 he became a partner of Hon. W.C. Bullock, and in that relation is still actively engaged in practice. He has been connected with many important causes in his section of the State, in which he has proven himself and efficient and able advocate, and a firm champion of right. In the case of the stockholders of the Shelby Railroad Company vs. he Louisville, Cincinnati & Lexington Railroad Company, reported in 12th Bush, he represented the plaintiffs, and succeeded in having the sale of the property of the Shelby Railroad Company set aside for irregularity, and in saving the corporate property for the stockholders. Again, in the case of Kreiger vs. the Shelby Railroad Company, he appeared for the defendant corporation and the Shelby Railroad District, and succeeded in obtaining a decision in the court of appeals establishing the right of the District, voting a subscription to the stock of the railroad, to vote for the officers of the company, and to participate in dividends, a decision which was of great importance to many of the citizens of Shelby County. Aside from his profession, Mr. Beckham is closely identified with the material and social welfare o the community in which he resides, and is recognized as one o the leading and influential citizens of Shelby County. He is a member of the board of directors of the Bank of Shelbyville, and president of the northern division of the Cumberland & Ohio Railroad. Politically he ahs always been a firm adherent of Democratic principles, thought never an aspirant for political position. His political views, as once epitomized by himself, are as follows: “Government should do nothing for the citizen which the citizen can do for himself. Government should touch the citizen at as few points as possible. The two opposing classes of extremists, viz.: the one who wants the government to do everything, and the other, the communist, who wants the government to do nothing, are especially hurtful to society, and should be equally condemned.” In 1883 Mr. Beckham was chosen to represent Shelby County in the State Legislature, and performed the duties in an able and satisfactory manner, serving as a member of the judiciary committee, and on that of revenue and taxation by special request of the members of that committee. Mr. Beckham is deservedly popular in the community in which his whole life has been spent, and enjoys the confidence of the people to an unlimited degree. He married, in February, 1868, Margaret Wickliffe, daughter of ex-Gov. Robert C. Wickliffe, of Louisiana, and grand-daughter of ex-Gov. Charles A. Wickliffe, of Kentucky, who served in President Tyler’s cabinet as Postmaster General. Mrs. Beckham is a lady of remarkable kindliness of disposition, and the poor and friendless ever find in her an attentive and sympathetic friend. The children are Miss Annie D. Beckham and William T. Beckham. Submitted by: Kim Rop http://www.genrecords.net/emailregistry/vols/00007.html#0001606 Additional Comments: From History of Kentucky Illustrated, 1887 By W.H. Perrin, J.H. Battle and G.C. Kniffin Page 739-740 This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.org/kyfiles/