Vernon William Heap

Vernon Heap wrote the following information about his maternal grandfather, Nelson Stoyell Hollingshead: I got from the Pioneer record that grandfather, Nelson S. Hollingshead came to Parowan with the first company with Elder George A. Smith, leaving Salt Lake City December 7, 1850, and arrived at Center Creek, now Parowan, January 13, 1851. At the age of 26 years was a Priest in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He married Mehetable Thornton and to them 8 children were born, 4 boys and 4 girls, my mother, Louisa Hollingshead, being one of the girls.

He also married Elizabeth Evans (a sister to Ginken and Thomas Evans) to whom were born 7 children, 5 boys and one girl. He moved this second family to Minersville. Grandfather built and ran a flour mill in Minersville, and also built the first flour mill in Panguitch and helped to build the first flour mill in Parowan. He was the miller here at the time of the Mountain Meadow Massacre. He let that company have flour from the mill as they went through Parowan. Grandfather also did cabinet work, such as cupboards, flour bins and furnitre for his family and friends. I have a cupboard and bin he made for my mother. They must be at least 75 years old.

Grandfather was a loser to the Indians in livestock, such as mules, horses and cattle. I was told he sent some of his teams back for other Pioneers. He died in Minersville when I was just a babe. I was my mother's fifth child, born in Parowan, Utah, October 14, 1884.