Son of Samuel Egbert and Margaret Mariah Beckstead

Married Emma Grimmett, 22 Mar 1860, West Jordan, Salt Lake, Utah

Married Ariminta Elizabeth Bateman, 9 Mar 1882, Salt Lake City, Salt Lake, Utah

Bishop Egbert, of West Jordan, was but seven years old when he crossed the plains from the Missouri River to Salt Lake Valley. In the exodus of the Saints from that State, he, with his parents, was among those driven westward, but it was three years before the family rejoined the main body of the Church in Utah. The journey from the frontier was accomplished between June and October, 1849. Although a mere child at the time, many trying incidents were riveted upon the mind of the boy colonizer.

The family settled west of the Jordan River. Among young Egbert's experiences were the grasshopper raids and Indian troubles of early years. He helped to fight the former and stood guard against the latter while yet a lad in his teens, besides performing other duties of a public character. He served in Echo Canyon, 1857–8, and during the general move was one of those left to guard the property of the absent settlers. On March 12, 1860, he was married to Emma Grimmett. Ten children were the issue of the union.

In October, 1869, he was called on a mission to "Dixie," and in November of that year arrived on the Muddy, from which place he was sent to Long Valley. Finally he settled at Meadow Valley Wash, and remained there until June, 1870, when, the water failing, the settlement was abandoned. In the fall of that year, Mr. Egbert was called with John Bennion to take charge of the live stock of the Dixie Mission. In the performance of that duty they moved with their families to Panacca, in Meadow Valley, and thence, in 1871, to Deseret Springs. Early in 1872 he moved his family to Eagleville. The line between Utah and Nevada being run, the western part of the Dixie country fell into the latter.

The Egberts moved back to West Jordan, arriving there in July, 1872. In June, 1881, Mrs. Egbert was called into the great beyond, leaving her husband with six small children in the home. In March, 1882, he married Araminta Elizabeth Bateman, by whom he has had eleven children.

John Egbert was a lieutenant in the Utah militia until it was disbanded by the governor in 1870. For several years he was president of the twelfth quorum of Elders, and in March, 1886, was set apart as one of the presidency of the thirty-third quorum of Seventy. That position he held until June 1, 1890, when he was ordained a High Priest by President Lorenzo Snow and set apart as Bishop of the West Jordan Ward.