Archives West Finding Aid

John Beck was born 19 March 1843 to John and Caroline Hall Beck in Aichelberg, Wurtenberg, Germany. He was converted to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in 1861 while studying in Switzerland. He returned to his native town to preach and in 1864, immigrated with twenty others to America. Beck arrived in Lehi, Utah, in October 1864 where he settled down to raise sheep. In 1865, he married a third cousin, Sara Beck, with whom he raised nine children. Beck had seven other children from his plural marriages to Louisa Matti and Bertha, Matilda, and Louisa Goss. His mining career began in 1870 with the first successful attempt to find concealed ore in the Eureka Gulch. After some setbacks, Beck established the Bullion Beck & Champion Mining Company as principal owner, president, and general manager. Beck also held interest in a number of other mines in the area, as well as being a major owner of two asphalt companies and the Bullion-Beck Tunnel. He was also sole owner of the hot spring resort, Saratoga Springs, in Lehi. After serving a voluntary, two-year mission to Germany from 1887 to 1889, Beck spent the major part of three years in California. In 1890, he took up permanent residence in Salt Lake City where he helped found the Deaf Mute Institute of Utah.