Son of Francis Beckstead and Catharine Lang

Born in Williamsburg, Dundas, Ontario, Upper Canada. George was the youngest of 21 children.

Married Eleanor Davies, 28 Apr 1859, Provo, Utah, Utah

George Wesley's parents became members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints when George was two years old. They were among the first families to join the Church when the Mormon missionaries first went into that part of Canada.

The family left Canada in July, 1838, with ox-teams, traveling a long and lonesome road to join the main body of the Saints. It has been related that when they were within a day's travel of their destination, they were beset by a mob, which held them captive until rescued by a large company of men under the leadership of the Prophet Joseph Smith. They arrived at DeWitt, Missouri during the last week in September, 1838, where they suffered many mobbings and persecutions. In fact they were forced to live in their wagons at DeWitt, until the Saints were finally able to escape from the mobs, by using back roads. They went to the area of Far West, Missouri.

The following spring, 1839, the families moved with the body of Saints, to the area near Nauvoo, Illinois. They remained there until further persecution occurred, and most of their homes were burned, and they moved to Council Bluffs, Iowa.

In 1841 George Wesley's father, Francis, S., died in Lima, Illinois, near Nauvoo. This left a great deal of responsibility upon the shoulders of young George Wesley, and his brother, William Ezra, to take care of the widowed mother and sister, as they were preparing for the move to Utah. His brother, William Ezra, then enlisted with the Mormon Battalion in 1846, leaving more responsibility upon young George.

After experiencing continuous hardships, and delays in their plans, the family finally arrived in Utah in 1849, with the Redden Allred Company.

George later made two trips back to assist the Saints on their way to the Salt Lake Valley, Owing to so much exposure to dampness and cold, George developed inflammatory rheumatism, from which he suffered for many years.

George Wesley first settled in Provo, Utah, and worked as a policeman. He married Eleanor Davis, 28 April 1859. Their first five children were born in Provo. Due to his health he decided to move to Riverton, Salt Lake County, Utah. Here he became very well known as a stockman, buying and selling cattle and sheep. He helped build one of the first canals in Salt Lake County.

Although handicapped with poor health and very little education, he was a good financier and accumulated considerable property for those times.

He filled a mission for the LDS Church to Canada. He was well known for his philanthropic spirit. Anyone in need could get help from him. He would give them assistance and then show them how to help themselves. Although liberal to a fault, he would not be imposed upon. His home was always open to anyone passing.

In his later years he frequently took trips to visit his brother, Simon Peter, in Hamburg, Iowa, and William Ezra, in San Bernardino, California. It was on one of such trips to visit William Ezra that George Wesley collapsed and died in his hotel room of a heart attack. His body was returned to Utah, and buried in the South Jordan Cemetery.