He worked on a farm and was subsequently a clerk in a country store at Bethel, Kentucky.

He became a private tutor and taught school for two years in Orangeburg and Maysville.

He established the Clark County Democrat in 1867, which he owned and edited for a number of years.

Beckner was elected as a Democrat to the Fifty-third Congress to fill the vacancy caused by the death of Marcus C. Lisle and served from December 3, 1894, to March 3, 1895.

This article incorporates public domain material from the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress