Emsley Wilson Beckett is a son of Moses Beckett who in 1805 settled in what is now Grant District, Cabell County, and helped to rear the first cabins, fell the first trees and bring this now fertile country into cultivation, sharing with those who ate their bread without having mills to grind the grain. Moses Beckett married Rebecca S. Wilson, and their son Emsley W. was born in Cabell County, August 28, 1832. In this county, September 26, 1854, he married Mary S. Roberts, and their children were fourteen: John H., born August 28, 1855, married Eliza N. Killgore; Louisa Matilda E. born December 6, 1856, married John Hanley; Rebeccca F., May 7, 1860, married Hollis Braley; James A.M., September 16, 1858, died August, 1860; Lois A., April 1, 1862, died December 19, 1863; George M., March 7, 1864; Adaline, January 27, 1866,; Mary F., February 19, 1868; Gertrude F. March 2, 1870; Margaret, October 24, 1871, died January 22, 1874; Thomas, October 14, 1873; Allen, July 5, 1875; Ezra W., January 7, 1878; Josephine O., April 28, 1881. Alex D.[typo should be Bird] and Susan (Wells) Roberts were the parents of Mrs. Beckett, who was born in Cabell County, February 14, 1839. Mr. Beckett has been school trustee and road surveyor, and is now member of the Board of Education of Grant District. He was deacon in the Baptist Church at Union, and clerk the church at Zoah. He resides on his farm of 115 acres, having 50 acres under cultivation, the rest heavily timbered, with limestone and iron ore indicated. He is a shoemaker as well as farmer, and has his post office address at Milton, Cabell Co, West Virginia. History in WV Heritage Encyclopedia by Comstock ca 1883. Vol 6 p 100

MARRIAGE: Emsley Beckett age 22 single born Cabell Co parents Moses-Rebecca Beckett m. Mary Roberts age 16 single born Cabell Co parents Sandy-Susan Roberts on Sep 26 1854 by Benjamin L. Perry MB 2 p 1 (From papers of Josephine Orena Beckett Thompson, she says witnesses to the wedding were Frank Roberts and Nancy Smith. They were married at A.B. Roberts home (her father) by Rev. Benjamin L. Perry.)

CENSUS: 1860 Cabell Co p 187 Mud Bridge
Emsley 28, Mary S 21, John H 4, Louisa 3, James 2, Rebecca 2/12.

CENSUS: 1870 Cabell Co Grant Twp. Aug 5 1870. p. 565 132-135
Emsley Becket 35 farmer $500 RE $150 PP born WV
Mary S. 32 keeping house born WV
John H. 14 WV
Louisa 12 WV
Rebecca 10 WV
George 7 WV
Adaline 4 WV
Fannie 2 WV
Arvilla 5/12. AV

CENSUS: 1880 p. 19 ED 12 E.M. Beckett 47, Mary S 43. Matilda 23, George M 16, Adaline 14, Fannie 12, Gertrude 10, Thomas F 6, Allen 4, Ezra W 2.

CENSUS: 1880 WV Census
E. M. BECKET Self M Male W 47 WV Farmer WV WV
Mary T. BECKET Wife M Female W 43 WV Keeping House VA VA
Matilda BECKET Dau S Female W 23 WV House Work WV WV
George M. BECKET Son S Male W 16 WV Farm Hand WV WV
Adaline BECKET Dau S Female W 14 WV House Work WV WV
Fannie BECKET Dau S Female W 12 WV House Work WV WV
Gertrude BECKET Dau S Female W 10 WV House Work WV WV
Thos. F. BECKET Son S Male W 6 WV WV WV
Allen BECKET Son S Male W 4 WV WV WV
Ezra W. BECKET Son S Male W 2 WV WV WV
Census Place Grant, Cabell, West Virginia NA Film Number T9-1401 Page Number 93C

CENSUS: 1900
Emza Beckett 67 born Aug 1832 born WV, father born Wv, mother born VA
Orane Beckett 19 dau born April 1881 born WV, parents born WV.
Sallie Beckett 16 dau born Jan 1884 born WV, parents born WV.
1900; Census Place: Grant, Cabell, West Virginia; Roll T623_1756; Page: 14A; Enumeration District: 4.

CENSUS: 1910
Edgar (Ezra) Beckett 31 married 7y born OH, parents born OH
Meda Beckett 33 married 7y, 2 children 2 living, born OH, parents born OH
Clarence Beckett 5 born OH, parents born OH
William Beckett 2 born OH, parents born OH
Edward (Emsley) Beckett 77 boarder m. 6 born Wv, parents born VA
Lucy Beckett 54 wife m. 6y born WV, 5 children 0 livng
1910; Census Place: Huntington Ward 1, Cabell, West Virginia; Roll T624_1678; Page: 5B; Enumeration District: 18; Image: 653.

DEATH: No Death certificate found in Huntington per Cabell Co Courthouse Clerk. Date of death comes from family bible, obituary and family history written by his daughter. Year given on tombstone.

OBIT: Huntington Herald Feb 11 1913. Emsey Beckett, 80, one of the best known residents of the East End, died at his home at 925 Adams Ave at 5 o'clock yesterday morning, following an illness with pneumonia that took the victim within a very short time. The decedent was retired farmer and formerly resided near Milton. He had a host of children and grandchildren scattered throughout Cabell County there being more than half a hundred of them at a reunion held a year or so ago. Father of 17 children 10 living: Mrs. Matilda Hanley, Mrs. Sallie White of Culloden, Mrs. Gertrude Harbor and Mrs. Adeline Chapman of Milton, Mrs. Ora Thompson of Hurricane, Mrs. Rebecca Brailey of Wilson WV, Mrs. Fannie Lattin and Mr. Ezra Beckett of Huntington and Thomas Beckett of Washington. The body was taken to Milton on the No. 14 this morning and the interment will be made at the Beckett Cemetery a few miles back of that town.

WILL: Emsley W Beckett wife Lucy J Beckett to receive lots in Huntington bought of Fanny & M A Lattin, afterward equally divided between children. wife to get $200 rest divided equally between children (unnamed). son Allen executor. DB __ p 521 date Nov 14 1912 probate Mar 3 1913 Cabell Co.