In the book's own words, not ours, with obvious scanning errors fixed. Families often supplied these stories to the publisher, so check key dates.
Born 1844
From Memorial record of Butler County, Ohio, containing biographical sketches of representative citizens of the county together with biographies and portraits of all the presidents of the United States (1894)
JAMES M. BECKETT is a native of Union Township, and was born October 24, 1844. He is a son of James C. and EJiza Jane (Baxter) Beckett. There were four children born to them, all sons: James M., William F., Canet K. and John B. The father of our subject was a farmer and erected a still-house near his old home in Union Township. He had a farm of four hundred and seventy-five acres. The paternal grandfather of our subject was John Beckett, a native of Ireland, who came to this country and settled in Hamilton County, where he followed farming. He was a soldier of the Revolutionary War, and died at the age of ninety-one years. He had a family of three children, two sons and one daughter. The maternal grandfather of our subject was Andrew Baxter, who died at Foster’s Crossing. James M., our subject, was born and brought up on the farm where he now lives, and remained at home until a young man, receiving his education in the district schools. He afterward memorial record.
attended Heron Seminary at Cincinnati. When his education was completed he commenced farming for himself on the old home place. lie was united in marriage with Mary Wakefield, who bore him four children: William, Cora, Mary E. and one other. His wife was a useful member of society and was connected with the Presbyterian Church. She died, and he married Cora Jackson.
Politically Mr. Beckett votes the Republican ticket, and believes in the policy of protection to American industry. He farms five hundred and fifty acres of land and deals in stock quite extensively, having on hand at the present time one hundred and fifteen mules. He has been a resident of the county for half a century, and is familiar with the many changes wrought in that time.
As printed in Memorial record of Butler County, Ohio, containing biographical sketches of representative citizens of the county together with biographies and portraits of all the presidents of the United States (1894). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.
Their biographies name James M. Beckett: James C. Beckett (b. 1799)
The printed record stops around 1894. We trace your line from there down to you, with every source cited.