1847 Brigham Young entered the Great Salt Lake Valley which became the hub of westward expansion of new converts to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.  Our ancestors were caught up with this movement.

Papa's grandfather, William Heaton (1827-1877) was born in Little Horton, Yorks, England, whose father was Jonathan Heaton (1894-1855) of Great Horton, Yorks. He was buried in England, but Frances O'Dwyer (1804 - 1872) was brought to Payson, Utah by William after his four year mission to Scotland. She was buried there as was his wife,  Esther Beilby (1830 - 1875). The parents of Frances were Valentine O'Dwyer and Alice Wild O'Dwyer.

Esther was a small, fair complexioned beautiful dark eyed girl with black wavy hair which she passed on to her six sons. Wilford Wild had really curly dark hair. William was also dark haired with brown eyes, five foot nine and one half inches tall and in later life a 175 pound man, but when he was one of the first converts in England, he had broad shoulders, a slender waisted youth of 22. Within a year he had been called to spread the "glad news" in the towns between Scarsbro by the seas to Bradford. He walked many miles, made many converts and continued his mission for three years. He had never been away from home before in his life and was filled with joy when he attended his first conference and saw his parents and their children in the audience.  He had opposition from ministers who felt threatened by this new doctrine that drew some of their flocks to it. They stirred up the people so he couldn't find lodging in some villages or a place to preach in the rain. So he used a shed and slept with a young stranger who was willing to share.   

There were seven elders in that area when he first joined the church, one was his brother, two were Esther's. Her father did not join and became bitter after his two sons died of a fever while trying to reach Zion. Mary, the oldest sister, reached Salt Lake. Esther married William right after they saw the three of them off from Liverpool. William helped her father harvest, no one had time to listen, they were all harvesting. The other elers in Priesthood meeting voted to give Elder Heaton a new suit and for a member to make it. His wife had been living at home while he was involved with his mission, but she moved to his folks' home before Christopher Beilby Heaton was born, 1852. They had one more son, William McDonald in January 1856 before they sailed to Boston on the ship, "Enoch Train" with 350 other converts. They had to wait in Iowa City while handcarts were made. William's family was in the second company under Captain D. McArthur. They were eager to start but ill prepared for such a great undertaking. 

William had healed a boy who had had a muscular illnes all his life. He had great faith and many joined the church after seeing that on his mission. He revived a boy left for dead on the 1200 mile trek, put him in his cart and pushed him along with his two sons until they caught up with his parents in the first company. The captains knew they had to make so many miles each day or perish in the snows in the Rockies. They had a late start and could hardly wait to bury those who fell. When William became too ill to go on, he was left by the side of the trail to die. Esther had to get her boys into the safety of night camp. She was exhausted but couldn't sleep so she asked Mary Jane McClere to go back on the trail to help her find her husband. He was still alive. Mary was young and strong. She helped pull him up, put his arms over their opposite shoulders and their arms around his waist and they struggled back to camp. They continued on in this manner until William regained enough strength to make it on his own. Mary continued to help Esther with the baby. 

They had one oxen die, the ox use to haul provisions. They prayed for help and just ahead on a knoll they found another one -- it seemed a miracle. The going was rough when the plains ended with mountains.  The rockies finished their shoes, the weather turned cold. Winter came early the fall of 1856. There was little food left and progress slowed. When snow became high banks on the side of the trail disaster face them, 2 days out the first company had reported their plight. they had too many who couldn't go on after a forced march of 28 miles one day and twenty the next. Brigham Young sent provisions and wagons to rescue them, but it was too late for some. Mr. McClere died leaving his wife with seven children including Mary, the young Irish convert who had helped save William.  William Jr. died in four days. The Heatons moved on to Payson to settle. The better land around Salt Lake had already been claimed. Jonathan, Papa's father and Esther's third son, was born in Payson 1857-1930. They built a home, gardens and fields for their animals. While Johnston's army was camped at Camp Floyd, Alvin Franklin was born at Peteetneet Creek near Salt Lake City. William Wild was Esther's next son in Pays, 1883 -1936. Her last child was Fred Walker Heaton 1866-1914. He was also born in Payson.

They had been in Payson  twelve years when William was called to the Muddy Mission to colonize that area 1868,  They had a wagon for this trip, Jonathan helped drive their animals alongside. Chris was eight years older and helped drive. Pioneer children knew how to work, It was in the late fall but the weather was very warm and after they left St. George, Utah, there were no roads to speak of. It was a difficult trip. The climate requires air conditioning. There wasn't even trees for shade, heat, or to build with. The Muddy was a clear stream except in time of floods. Some swampland had to be drained, a canal built, orchards planted, land cleared for crops, adobes dried in the sun for homes.

Because the land was places under Nevada in 1870, Young visited the ? settlements along the Muddy in 1871. The decision to abandon them made because of a poll tax to be paid in gold, Indians, no timber, etc.