John Conrad Beckmann, ironwork craftsman, was born on June 13, 1815,in Rülle, near Osnabrück, Westphalia, the son of Johann Heinrich and Katarina Maria (Kohmöller) Beckmann. He immigrated to New York in 1839 and traveled to Baltimore and Cincinnati. He then returned toZurich, Switzerland, and brought his betrothed, Regina Mueller, to New York, where they were married in 1841. His brothers Joe and Bernhart were already in New York.
       Beckmann had been trained in Zurich as a locksmith, as a woodworking craftsman, and as a blacksmith. He moved to San Antonio, Texas, in 1846. Later he was employed by the United States government to set up three forges in the Alamo for blacksmith work for the army and for the renovation of the Alamo. His first home, built in 1849, was behind the Alamo on Crockett Street. Later he built a home and blacksmith shop on the southwest corner of Commerce and Casino streets. With the urging of Dr. Ferdinand Herff, Beckmann fashioned hand-wrought iron bedsteads for his German friends.
       As a founder of the German-English School, he took part in the cornerstone laying in 1859. Beckmann was a founder and charter member of early San Antonio German organizations: the Casino Club, the Turnverein, the hospitalization insurance association, workers association, the Beethoven Männerchor, and theTeutonia Mixed Chorus. Beckmann died on April 12, 1907, in San Antonio and was buried in the Alamo Masonic Cemetery. He was survived by one son, although the Beckmanns had been the parents of seven children; several died in a cholera epidemic. Beckmann's portrait, painted by artist Edward Grenet in the early 1880s, is said to have encouraged the young artist in his career as a portrait painter.

1. What is John Conrad Beckmann? When and where was he born?
       - He was an ironwork craftsman; he was born on June 13,1815 in Rulle, near Osanbruck, Westphalia.
2. What were his parents names?
       - Johann Heinrichh and Katarina Maria (Kohmoller) Beckmann.
3. Who did he marry? When? Where?
       - Regina Mueller; 1841; New York.
4. What was he trained for in Zurich?
       - A locksmith, a woodworking craftsman, and a blacksmith.
5. When did he move to San Antonio? What the the U.S. government want him to do?
       - He moved in 1846; wanted him to set up three forges in the Alamo for blacksmith work for the army and for the renovation of the Alamo.
6. Where was his first home located at? Where was the home and blacksmith shop that he built located at?
       - Behind the Alamo on Crockett Street; On the Southwest corner of Commerce and Casino Streets.
7. What was he a founder of? What did he take part in during 1859?
       - He was a founder of the German-English School, San Antonio German organizations: the Casino Club, the Turnverein, the hospitalization insurance association, workers association, the Beethoven Mannerchor, and the Teutonia Mixed Chorus; the cornerstone laying.
8.When did he die? Where was he buried?
       - April 12, 1907; Alamo Masonic Cemetery.
9. How many children did he have? How did many of them die?
       - He had seven children; several died in a cholera epidemic.
10. Out of Seven children how many survived?
       - only one