Son of Thomas Wesley Beckstead and Lydia Maria Rose

Married Phoebe Elizabeth Campbell, 5 Dec 1889, Ogden, Weber, Utah

Children - Lydia Ellen Beckstead, Elsie Leone Beckstead, Nancy Aleze Beckstead, Edna Barbara Beckstead, Etta Elizabeth Beckstead, Zan Moroni Beckstead

The following sketch was submitted by his children:

"His mother died when he was 5 years old, and his sister, Aunt Barbara Brown, raised him as her own. He went through poverty and hard times. He had no schooling. While herding sheep one winter, a boy in his teens, he got his feet frozen, and lost two toes. It was six months before he could walk.

"He married Pheobe E. Campbell, 5 December 1889, and after the wedding had $2.50 in his pocket. He worked for 50ƒ¤ a day. With a small team and covered wagon and all their belongings, and with two children, they went to Cache Valley and settled in Whitney, Idaho, in 1896. After putting a window in a grainery of Uncle Wesley's, we lived in that while they got out logs and built a one-room log house. We made a straw shed and dug a well. We were very happy and times were hard - wheat was 35ƒ¤ a bushel. It was hard to pay taxes. Father sheared sheep and helped to build Whitney canal. Each fall he would run the old horse-power threshing machine. As time went on he would help in many ways in the ward. On the 4th of July he fired the cannons and had the races in charge, and called for the dances - he was catcher and Uncle Andrew was pitcher for the Whitney baseball team. They played all the teams in the area, and Father took the players with his little black team. He was sexton for the cemetery, and for 13 years was constable.

"We recall some instances, such as, when a little Japanese baby drowned in the ditch, they were along and Father took right over and took care of the body and all details. When Crockets had small pox no one would go in, but Father said he would they would have died if no one helped them. He said the Lord would take care of him. When the Moser brothers were buried in the snow slide, Father was one of the first to go help. There was no undertaker, so when a death occurred he would drive his black team, draped with white on a white buggy, and take the body to the church and cemetery.

When Parkinson's barn caught fire he almost lost his life helping to get the last of the cattle out. When the team ran away and killed Allie, it happened by our place, Father was the one to take him to the house. While hauling our hay, the hay pole fell and killed Ornal, Andrew Beckstead's boy. Know it was the hand of the Lord or I would have been with Ornal, as we were side by side. What a sad and bloody sight, Uncle Andrew with Ornal in his arms, and Father driving Queen and the buggy. Two brothers never helped each other and worked harder, early and late, and loved each other more than Uncle Andrew and Father.

"He worked 4 years as city police. Then he was elected county sheriff. He saved the county more money and worked harder than anyone before. He made more friends and helped more young boys keep out of trouble. More than once he has taken young boys home, put them to bed until morning. He served as sheriff for 6 years, and had filed to run again, when he died.

"Father devoted his life to helping others. He was never too tired or too busy to help anyone, or to help with the sick. He received his happiness doing good things for others. If ever a man earned a place in heaven, it was him.

"As a family we can't estimate his greatness - his faith - his kindness and love, and the happiness he received in life. He always had a handshake that made you feel he was one of you, and always had a cheerful word. He was always faithful with his donations for the Church. He leaves a heritage that is worth more than wealth to us. He has left his family a testimony of the Gospel which will be a shield and protection to us children all the days of our lives, and this testimony will be handed down from one to another. He gave to those in need and spread good cheer wherever he went, bringing sunshine into lives that were empty. May we always cherish his memory.

We as a family pay the highest tribute to our parents - to their union were born five daughters and one son. We are proud of our name, and hope to live worthy of it always."