Mormon Pioneer Overland Travel, 1847–1868 John B. Walker Company (1852) Age 33

Departure: 26-30 June 1852 Arrival: 2-7 October 1852

William Heap, son of Hannah Cooper and William Heap, Sr., was born April1, 1819 at Birch, Lancashire, England. On July 15, 1839, he married Hannah Ward, daughter of George and Isabella Harbourn Ward. To them were born two sons, Parley and Joseph. They became converts of the Mormon Church, and desiring to emigrate to America to be with their co-religionists, crossed the ocean in a sailing vessel which docked in New Orleans April 18, 1849. Hannah died while en route to Council Bluffs and one month later William married his wife's two sisters, Barbara and Mary Ward. During their stay in Council Bluffs, Mary gave birth to a son, George Heap, born March 14, 1850. Barbara's first child was born at Council Bluffs, November 6, 1850.

The family of William Heap came into the valley in 1853 and after a short stay went to Parowan, Iron county. On the 13th of November, 1854, they journeyed to San Bernardino, California. Mr. Heap was successful in his mining venture and soon acquired considerable property. Mary felt that he was drawing away from the Church and realizing this was not the kind of environment she wanted for her children she returned to Parowan with George and little Mary Ellen. Soon after her arrival twins, John Henry and Charles Hatbourn were born, August 20, 1857. Mary later married, as third wife David Leonard Savage and to them were born five children. He was a good father to Mary's children and saw to it that they grew up in the faith for which their mother had sacrificed so much. Mary died in Kingston, Piute county, October 17, 1883.

William and Barbara Heap remained in San Bernardino the remainder of their lives. Along with her own family she reared the children of Hannah. William Heap died in San Bernardino, February 7, 1892.

Covered Wagon Families:

William Heap Among Early Settlers of San Bernardino Valley, Established Own Farm: Brought Family West from Salt Lake in 1852, Descendants Active in Development of District.

William Heap was born in Manchester England, April 1, 1819. His first wife was Hannah Ward Heap. His second wife was Mary Ward Heap. His third wife was Barbara Ward Heap, both were sisters of Hannah Ward Heap. William and Barbara Heap arrived at San Bernardino, California, in 1854.

Children by Hannah Ward Heap: Parley W. Heap Sr., born in England. Married Elizabeth May Bottoms Heap at San Bernardino, CA.

Joseph Heap born in England, married Mary Schyfe Heap at San Bernardino, CA.

Children by Mary Ward Heap: George Heap, born in Council Bluffs, Iowa. Married Louisa Hollingshead heap in Parowan, Utah.

John Henry Heap, born in Parowan, married Mary Anna White Heap in St. Johns, Utah.

Charles Heap born in Parowan, Utah, married Mary Olive Stephens Heap in Salt Lake City.

Children by Barbara Ward Heap: Anna Heap Vale born in Parowan, Utah, married Milton Webster Vale at San Bernardino. Isabell Heap Dunlap, married Pierce Dunlap at San Bernardino. James Heap, born in Council Bluffs, Iowa, married Abigale Martin Heap. Fred Heap born at San Bernardino. Jennie Heap Morgeau, born at San Bernardino, married William Morgeau at San Bernardino. Mary Elizabeth Heap Keller born at San Bernardino, married Nathan Keller.

William Heap, known affectionately as Uncle Billy, married Hannah Ward in Lancashire, England, in 1841. The couple came to the United States by steamer and Hannah Heap died in New Orleans. Thereafter, he was married to Mary Ward, Hannah Ward’s sister, in Salt Lake City, Utah. William Heap later married Barbara Ward, who was a sister of his former wives, Hannah and Mary. They were married in Council Bluffs, Iowa.

The original family home was located on East Ninth Street between Waterman and Tippecanoe Avenues. William Heap engaged in farming after settling in San Bernardino. One of his grandsons, George Heap, purchased a transfer company in San Bernardino in 1907. Heap & Heap Transfer Company is now operated by Parley W. Heap, Jr., George Heap having since died.

Third Generation: Parley W. Heap, Jr., wife Mary Elisabeth Dempsey Heap; George Heap, wife Susan Estella Case Heap; Annie Elisabeth Heap Dempsey, wife of Joseph H. Dempsey; William Heap, wife, Mary Ellen Dewitt Heap; Walter J. Heap, wife Florence Arinsa English Heap; Arthur Garfield Heap, wife Josephine Delos Heap; Harry Richard Heap, wife Mary Alice Paine Heap; Ethel Mae Heap Kelty, wife of Clarence V. Kelty. They are the children of Parley W. Heap Sr., and Elizabeth May Bottoms Heap.

May Heap Pratt, wife of Newcomb Pratt; Henry Heap, wife Helen Wells Heap; Gertrude Heap Younglove, wife of Fred Younglove; Doria Heap Griffith, wife of Morris Griffith; Irvin Heap, wife Helen Boyle Heap. They are the children of Joseph Heap and Mary Schyfe Heap.

Gertrude Heap Perris, wife of Charles Perris; Barbara Heap; Lena Heap Eastwood, wife of Harry P. Eastwood; Bert Heap; Georgia Heap Patterson, wife of Clarence Patterson; Josephine Heap Shay, wife of Lester Shay; Ida Heap Hager, wife of Frank Hager. They are the children of James Heap and Abigale Martin Heap.

Ida May Vale Moultroup, wife of James T. Moultroup; James A Vale, wife Alsa Walters Vale, Lillie Vale Keir, wife of William E. Keir; Milton W. Vale, wife Lillian Shaw Vale. They are the children of Anna Heap Vale and Milton Webster Vale.

Leone Dunlap Soden, wife of Leslie Soden; Zella Dunlap Jones, wife of Hugh Jones; William Dunlap, wife Mary Carter Dunlap; Clara Dunlap Allison, wife of Harry Allison. They are the children of Isabell Heap Dunlap and Pierce Dunlap.

William Heap, known affectionately as Uncle Billy, married Hannah Ward in Lancashire, England in 1841. The couple came to the United States by steamer and Hannah Heap died in New Orleans. Thereafter he was married in Salt Lake City, Utah. Mary Ward was born in Lancashire on December 6, 1829 and died in Kingston, Utah, October 14, 1883.