Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1888-06-06
GEN. ALFRED BECKLEY.

FROM MS own
Gen. Alfred Becbley died at his home in
Rsleigh county on Monday, May %, 1888.
The following will explain itself:
RALEIGH c. H., Nov. 10, 1887.
j. C. Anderson, Wheeling:
MY DEAR Sir: have received your
kind letter Of the 9Th inst, and as You
know human life is uncertaio, for l have
recently heard of the sudden deeease OF
Mai Alph. Mordecsi, the head of my class
OF 1928, leaving four, Including myself,
the survivors. have written the enclosed
account Of my humble life and career.
You can put 1t in proper shape, should you
publish it. Give my kind regards to Mrs
Alderson and my reverend regards to your
dear mother.
l am truly your friend,
ALFRED BECRLEY.
Alfred Bsckley, Sr.. born in Washing
ton City. on Capital Hill, on Goth day of
Nav, 1902. during the first term of the i'm
mortal Thomas Jsfferson's presidency,
NY father, John Beckley, was the Clerk OF
tie House of Representatives during the
presidency OF Washington, the elder Adams
and Jefferson; was in 1888 Mayor of the
city of Richmond, and a member of the
Board of Aldermen, Clerk OF the House of
Delegates, and Secretary of the Convention
of Virginia on the Constitution OF 1877.
Ho was the warm personal and political
friend of Jefferson; was the first Librarian
Of Congress.
NV father died on the S:h day of April,
1907, and my mother removed 10 the city
of philadelphia in that year with myself,
q boy of FIVE years, her only child. She
lived in Philadelphia till some time in May,
1914, when she removed to Frankfort,
Kentucky. While in Philadelphia, / was
srnt to several schools of rspute, and in
Kentucky was the pupil Of Kean O'Hsra,
one of the finest classical teachers IN that
State, and became a good Latin
scholar. In 1919. Mr.. Monroe, then
President and warm personal friend OF
nv father on the application of my mother,
through Gen. William Henry Harrison gave
me the warrant of cadet of the United
States Military Academy at West Point,
N. Y, and this warrant signed by the
great War Secretary, John c. Calhoun, /
keep as q relic of the past. Upon Gen.
Harrison's invitation, / became an inmate
in his family at North Bend for six months,
awaiting myself OF the instruction OF Gen.
Harrison's private instructor to his chill
dreu. In August The General placing me
in the care of 3 Mrs. Kinney, and paying
nv travelling expenses TO West Point, out
of his own pocket, started for West Point,
lint was taken sick on the journey and did
not reach the Point Til the 25th of Septem-
Der, 1919, when my class Of 1923 bad been
at their studies whole month, 1 was eN-
smined alone by the academic staff and
admitted on the 25th Of September. /
graduated on the lst Of July, 1898, num-
her nine in a class Of thirty five, and was
commissioned as q Second Lieutenant OF
the Fourth Regiment Of United
STATES ARTILLERY on same day.
served thirteen ySsrs honorsbiy
in the United States Army; two years IN
Florida, 1924 to 1926; two years at Old
Point Comfort in West Virginia, IN the
schools of artillery practice; six years ON
ordnance duty at the Allegheny arsenal
near Pittsburv, and two years in garrison
At Fcrt Hamilton NArrows, New York. 10
1896 having married Miss Amelia Neville
Craig. daughter of Neville B. Craig, Esq,
editof of the Pit;sburg Gazette, l resigned
nv commission as FIrst Lieutenant, ana
To Fayetts county, vs., to improve
a body of unsettled stony lands for my
widowed mother and myself, lying IN the
sontheru part (uow RAleigh county. de-
voted myself to the building mp OF wild
lands. was instrumental in the building OF
,ba Giles. Fsyette aud Kanawha turnpike,
spd on the establishment of the new county
row embracing above 10, 900 Inhabitants
T yrss the first Clerk of the Circuit Court OF
RaleiSh county, and in 1872 the County
Superintendent of Schools; was Treasurer
of the School Funds; was the delegate from
,bs Thirteenth Electoral District Of va.
30 the National Wing Convention at Balti-
noore and voted for Henry Clay and Theo-
dore Frelinghuysen rs President and wee
President. In 1875, was o delegate at
large from West Virginia to the Natlcnsi
N, mocratic Convention in 81. Louis, Mo,
I'D in 1877 represented Raleigh county IN
49,. House OF Delegates at Wheeling, and
,Vas appointed by that Legislature to de-
I;gsr ON the evening session Of February
% 1877. an address on the character o.
csorye Washington, and read his farewell
sSJyesa. These duties performed, and re-
wed the unanimous thanks Of the House
If delegates. ] was rs warm an advocate
-, The acts Of that Legislature, eventually
nIsc;ne the State Capitol at Charleston as
arv other member, and rejoice that our
efforts were successful W
In 1919 the General Assembly OF vn.
ginia elected me as Brigsdier General on
Military, creating for me q new origadi er
district. In the civil war Of 1851 to 1000
| YVES called ont by General Henry
A. Wise, and served with my
BRIGADE in guarding the Businesses OF Cot
Ton Hill ana the f,rriss of New river: Inc