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Beck, Joseph Ellison

 Person

Biographical History

Joseph Ellison Beck (1810-1903) was an early member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints and settler of Utah.

Joseph Ellison Beck was born May 31, 1810, in New Hanover Township, Burlington County, New Jersey. He married Hannah Harrison Forsyth on December 17, 1833. Beck had connections to the meat packing industry in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and it was there in 1840 he first encountered the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints by way of Elder Orson Hyde who had stopped to preach a few sermons while enroute to Palestine. Beck was impressed by the missionary effort and donated money to the cause. On September 15, 1842, Hannah was baptized. Beck followed likewise and was baptized on May 25, 1847. Despite family and friends being resistant to their joining the Church, Joseph Beck and his wife were determined to join the Saints in Utah and departed with the Ezra Taft Benson Company on July 4, 1849. They settled in Salt Lake City, then moved on to West Jordan, then Palmyra (now Spanish Fork) and then to Fort Palmyra due to Indian troubles. Beck and his family lived through the grasshopper plague of 1854 to 1855. Beck was called to be the superintendent of the Indian Farm and Reservation. He served for one year under church leadership and two years under United States government authority. In 1865, when skirmishes led to the Blackhawk War, Beck was an active participant. He also participated in the Tintic and Walker wars. He died at the age of 93 on October 13, 1903.

Citation:
Billiongraves.com, via WWW, June 30, 2021 (b. May 31, 1810, New Jersey; d. Oct. 13, 1903. Joseph Ellison Beck born in New Hanover Township, Burlington County, New Jersey. He married Hannah Harrison Forsyth on December 17, 1833. Beck had connections to the meat packing industry in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and it was there in 1840 he first encountered the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints by way of Elder Orson Hyde who had stopped to preach a few sermons while enroute to Palestine. Impressed by the missionary effort and donated money to the cause. On September 15, 1842, Hannah was baptized. Beck baptized on May 25, 1847. Despite family and friends' resistance, Beck and his wife were determined to join the Saints in Utah and departed with the Ezra Taft Benson Company on July 4, 1849. Settled in Salt Lake City, then West Jordan, then Palmyra (now Spanish Fork) and then to Fort Palmyra due to Indian troubles. Lived through the grasshopper plague of 1854 to 1855. Beck was called to be the superintendent of the Indian Farm and Reservation. He served for one year under church leadership and two years under United States government authority. In 1865, when skirmishes led to the Blackhawk War, Beck was an active participant. He also participated in the Tintic and Walker wars. He died at the age of 93 on October 13, 1903.

Found in 1 Collection or Record:

Biographical sketches of Joseph Ellison Beck

 File — Folder 1: [Barcode: 31197230240266]
Identifier: MSS SC 396
Scope and Contents

Two typewritten histories of Joseph Beck, a Mormon pioneer and leader, written by Allen L. Beck and Eva Pearl Elder Beck.

Dates: 1966