Daughter of Alexander Beckstead and Catherine Lince

Married Samuel Egbert, 18 Apr 1839, Nauvoo, Hancock, Illinois

Children - William Henry, John Alexander, Martha Ann, Andrew Jackson, Susannah Maria, Catherine Mariah, Samuel Wesley, Harriet, Amanda Jane, Joseph Smith, Hyrum Smith, Mary Ellen, George Albert Smith, David Alonzo

History - Margaret Mariah Beckstead born in Williamsburg, Ontario, Canada. She came with her parents to the United States, in the fall of September, 1838, arriving in DeWitt, Missouri. They spent the winter in that area, then in the spring of 1839 went to Illinois, where she met and married Samuel Egbert. They moved to Hancock County, Illinois, just seven miles out of Nauvoo and remained there until the Saints were driven from Illinois.

Their first child was William Henry Egbert, born 12 December 1840, and he died 10 January, 1841. Samuel, his father, had to take the little boy for miles in order to get away from the "mobocrats," where he dug a grave and laid his son to rest.

As we look toward the horizon of the early colonization of the West, we can clearly see against the sky, men and women assuming the great responsibility of caring for their families, struggling against terrific odds to preserve the culture, refinement, and tradition of faith and hope against the cruelty of both men and nature. Certainly they were made of an enduring strength that defied anything or anyone who attempted to break or discourage. One cannot help but wonder and marvel at this determination and persistence that forced them on toward their goal, where they could worship as they saw fit.

After the mob set fire to their settlement, Samuel and Margaret Mariah were forced to move on to Council Bluffs, Iowa. Their outfit consisted of one yoke of oxen, one yoke of cows and a wagon. They remained in Iowa for two years, and then migrated to Utah, traveling with the Allen Taylor Company, and arriving to Utah, the 15th of October 1849, the trip covering about four months. They then settled on the West side of the Jordan River, just far enough south of Salt Lake City to be in what is now known as West Jordan. This same fall two other families settled just a little further south. They were Marvius Ensign and Thomas Butterfield.

These families settled near the river so as to be near water, and they were the first pioneers to settle that far South. They built log cabins securing logs from the mountains where Brigham Canyon is now located. Their fencing material and firewood were also taken from this canyon during the winter of 1849-50.

Margaret Mariah's husband became a farmer and stock raiser. One interesting thing they had, was the only sorghum press and vat in the community, and people depended on Samuel and his good wife for the molasses they used or the processing of their cane.

Samuel filled many responsible positions in the community and Church until his health failed and caused his retirement. After his death, Margaret continued to live on the farm, where she and her husband had spent so many years together. When her youngest son David married and came to live on the farm, Margaret spent many years living among her children.

"I can remember my grandmother as a very quiet and serene woman, her board lap such a comfortable place to sit on and always a joy to have her in our home. She would sit quietly in a rocker, and become lost in her own memories. In the fall of the year she often would cut in halves great quantities of prunes from my father's orchard, to be laid out to dry especially by myself, of course under her careful direction. When I used to complain that surely that should be the last, she would smilingly ask how many trees still had prunes on them. In the end we were rewarded with a wonderful story that we knew was true, exciting and breath-taking at times. I also remember the deep respect that my father held for this good woman, and how it showed in his voice when he called her "Mother Egbert."

Sad was the day when she passed quietly away on the 1st of July 1901, at the home of her daughter, Catherine Beckstead, in South Jordan. She was buried in West Jordan, back of the old Rock Church that she and her husband had helped build, and which is still standing today.