John Beckett a prosperous citizen of Westminster, was born in Ontario, Canada, June 2, 1819. His parents were Stephen and Anna (Taylor) Beckett, natives respectively of New Jersey and Canada, who had nine children. The father was a miller by trade. John worked at the lumber business in Pelham Township for several years, and in 1877 he moved to California, arriving at Westminster July 1.
There he purchased forty acres of land, which he has since improved, and being well down on the shady side of the hill,” he expects to spend the remainder of his life in the quiet of his lovely home, under the semi-tropic skies of Southern California. Both himself and wife are adherents of the church of the Friends, earnest and consistent Christian people.
Mr. Beckett married, in 1850, Miss Susan McMaster, who was born in County Sligo, Ireland, a daughter of William and Margaret (Frazier) McMaster, of Scotch origin. They have nine children, and came to Canada when Mrs. Beckett was eleven years old.