The family historical surname is Beckworth, but Sidney and a couple of brothers changed to Beckwith. Sidney's mother's Gridley family stem from Colonial America with many men serving in military with research back to serving with Wm the Conqueror. His father's Beckworth family will need research.

Sidney's family moved from NYINIL, he grew up in Illinois, his father dies in 1846 when he is 16. Altho he inherits part of his father's vast land holdings, he, as well as some of his brothers, sell his land to sister, Euphemia husband, Hutch Croft. Sidney's sister, Abigail, married Johnathan Stout, who yearned to move west. in 1850, Sydney lives with Gaylord cousins in Marshall Co. as farmhand. brother-in-law, Johnathan went to the California gold rush, possibly Sidney went with him, who then took a ship to Astoria, OR before returning to IL. Summer, 1852, Johnathan, Abigail, their only son, John Jr., 20-something and unmarried Sidney, and brother-in-law, James Croft, start out on the Oregon Trail, moving west, James Croft thought to have died of Cholera along the way.

Sidney's OR land claim, certificate #4443, states he arrived in OR 8-14-1852, then worked the Rogue River mines until that November, where he worked cutting wood and making shingles until spring 1853, then Oak Point putting up salmon until August, 1853.

In 1852, 14 yo Harriet Emily Taylor, born in IL or VA according to diff. census', also journeyed IL to OR with her large family; father a Baptist minister. May, 1855, almost 17yo Harriet married 25yo Sidney by his in-law, Ezra Stout.

Fall, 1855, he worked at the Althouse Mines until the Indian War where he fought in Crescent City, CA. returning to Astoria on the steamer, "California". He then laid claim to 158 acres in Clackamas County, OR 1855-9, Section 19 and 20 of twsp 4, close to Harriet's father's land.
In 1860 took his family to Chehalis County, WA along with Harriet's brother, Harrison, and families Waldrip and Young. This county later became Grays Harbor County. On the Chehalis River near Cedarville, Sidney laid claim to 360 acres with a lake and creek and the nearest town of supplies Olympia that Sidney traveled twice a year. Here he started with a small log cabin and grew fruit trees, hops, walnuts, Poland-China swine, bees, and dairy cows. Probate record listed lots 7 & 8 in block 25 of Elma, and Sec 3 & 4. As he prospered, he had built a 2-story home with 6 bedrooms on the second floor and master bedroom on main level. Evidently, Sidney was known to invite on Sunday, everyone from church, 35-50 ppl, to have dinner at his farm for Sunday meal. There was a "summer kitchen" apart from the main house kitchen for this purpose.

Thirty years later retiring in Elma twsp., son-in-law/carpenter, Robert Strong, built them a 9-room house where they lived 17 years. 1907, Sidney died when his son's horse kicked and trampled him in the barn. Harriet was a widow another 9 years, thankfully, all her children were grown.

Sidney and Harriet had 11 children: Charles, John, Emma, Serena, Elmer, Trenton, Ralph, Kate, Lillian, Dwight, Bonnie.

Harriet's father, Thomas Taylor, and sister, Jane Slover are buried in same cemetery.

Sources:
Clackamas Co OR marriage Record, name misspelled "Cydney"
Federal Tract Bk 120
Some Northwest Pioneer Families, 1969, Larry H. Henry, p. 88-90
Carol Dawn Croft spoke with and received written family history from cousin/descendants: Lola Finan and Helen Brooks in the 1980's.

obit: Elma Chronicle, 3-02-1907, . 4