BIO:  BECKES, Thomas J., s/o William P. & Margaret (Jordan) Beckes

Submitted by:  phill@redrock.net   (Phyllis Hill)

BECKES   JORDAN   MAIL   SPRINGER   CONGER

History of Knox and Daviess Counties, Indiana
Chicago:  The Goodspeed Publishing Co.  1886

Knox County, Johnson Twp., page 543

THOMAS J. BECKES is a son of William P. and Margaret (Jordan) Beckes, who
were born in Indiana and Kentucky, in 1790 and 1793, respectively.  The
mother came to Indiana when but a child, and here her marriage took place
in 1810.  By occupation the father was a farmer, and in connection, made
large quantities of apple and peach brandy for a number of years.  He was
a Democrat, and held the office of justice of the peace a number of years,
and both were working members of the Presbyterian Church.  The father died
in 1858 and the mother in 1853.  Thomas' ancestors on his father's side
were of Scotch-Welsh descent, and on his mother's Dutch-Irish.  Subject was
born in Knox County, Ind., in 1823.  He received a somewhat limited education
in the old subscription schools, and at the age of twenty years began
working for himself.  In 1848 he was married to Sarah Mail, born in 1828.
She was a daughter of Isaac and Julia (Springer) Mail, and died in 1857,
having borne four children:  Thomas C. and Isaac W., and two infants deceased.
In 1858 Mr. Mail took for his second wife Massa A. Mail, sister of his first
wife, by whom he had three children:  Julia O., Herschel R. and Lyman M.
His second wife died in 1864, and the same year he married his present wife,
Keturah Conger, born in 1838.  To them, nine children were born:  Laura A.,
Homer M., Horace C., Florence M., Ellis H., Norman E., Leroy D., Olive A.
and an infant deceased.  Julia, Thomas and Isaac are school teachers.  
Lyman M., is studying medicine.  In 1864 he was chosen appraiser of real
estate in Knox County, and also held the position of township trustee and 
clerk with great ability.  His father assisted him in life by giving him
100 acres of land, which he, by industry and economy, increased to 275
acres.  He has been a successful farmer, and takes a deep interest in the
intellectual and moral advancement of his community.
**************************************
USGENWEB NOTICE: In keeping with our policy of providing free genealogical 
information on the Internet, data may be freely used for personal research 
and by non-commercial entities as long as this message remains on all copied 
material. These electronic pages may not be reproduced in any format or 
presentation by other organizations or persons. Persons or organizations 
desiring to use this material for profit or any form of presentation, must 
obtain the written consent of the file submitter, or his legal representative
and then contact the listed USGENWEB archivist with proof of this consent.