Son of Alexander Beckstead and Catherine Lince

Married Sabina Ann Harrison, 14 Sep 1867, Salt Lake City, Salt Lake, Utah

Children: John Alma Beckstead, Jr., Mary Catherine Beckstead, Isaac Beckstead, Sabina Ann Beckstead, Nina Aditha Beckstead, Lores Edgar Beckstead, Bertha Adelia Beckstead, Geneva Loretta Beckstead, George Beckstead, Lynn Albert Beckstead

History - In 1838 Al's parents had joined The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Canada and arrived in DeWitt, Missouri the last week of September, that year. They had been attacked by the mobs, and persecuted in Missouri, and later in Illinois, during most of those ten years.

John Alma crossed the plains with his father's family in Reddin Allred Company, arriving in Salt Lake Valley in 1848. They lived in Weber County, then in 1850 moved to West Jordan, Utah, near the Jordan River.

John Alma married Sabina Ann Harrison in 1867, and to this union were born 10 children in South Jordan, Utah, this area being divided from the West Jordan section. He helped construct the Beckstead Ditch bringing water from the Jordan River, and as a young man was very active in helping improve and build up the land west of the River.

He was one of the 'Minute Men' - always being available for duty in guarding the settlers from the Indians. He served in the Black Hawk Indian War in Southern Utah, and at one time helped to recover the bodies of two of the Officers who had been killed. He farmed a piece of the land, and at times hauled ore from the Bingham mines.

John and his brother Gordon Silas made a very hard trip across the desert from Salt Lake City to Carson City, Nevada, hauling freight for the U.S. soldiers, and they nearly died from thirst. In 1873 he was called to help settle and build up a section of Arizona and is reported to be the first man with a wagon to cross the old Lee's Ferry. He also made a second trip to Arizona in 1883.

John was furnished a complete outfit wagon, 3 yoke of oxen, by his father, Alexander Beckstead, to take 5,000 pounds of flour, which he had donated, to St. George, Utah. This was given to the Saints in that area when they were in destitute circumstances. He also hauled granite rock from Little Cottonwood Canyon to Salt Lake City with two yoke of oxen, which rock was used to build the Salt Lake Temple.

"Uncle Al" as he was known, was a friend to everyone and was always willing to do something for others.