John B. Heilman
Sex: M
Individual Information
Birth: 24 Jul 1836 - Lycoming Co, PA
Christening:
Death: 21 Jul 1936 - Carrizozo, NM
Burial: in Rock Creek Cemetery
Cause of Death:
AFN :
Events
• Census, 1880 Census, 1880 in Del Norte, Rio Grande, CO
J.B. Heilman age 43, farmer, listed as head of household with wife Phytama age 36, keeping house; and children G.A. son, age 15; Benjamin C son age 9; Grayson R son age 3, Baby daughter 2 months old and Daisy, age 5 an adopted daughter.• Census, 1920 Census, 1920 in Denver, Denver Co, CO
Sigel Heilman is listed age 52, with wife Vina B age 47; daughter Ruth age 12 and father John B Heilman age 83.• Obituary, Obituary, 24 Jul 1936 in Pagosa Springs
<http://www.rootsweb.com/~coarchul/obits/obits_h.htm#jbh>
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(The Pagosa Springs Sun July 24, 1936) John B. Heilman. Death came to the oldest San Juan pioneer on Thursday morning, at the home of his daughter in Carrizozo, N. M. a week before his 100th birthday. Mr. Hellman was born in Lycoming County, Pennsylvania, July 24 1836. At the age of four, his family took their freight outfits, cattle, horses and covered wagons and went into Indiana. When he grew old enough he drove a canal boat on the Wabash and Erie Canal. In 1854 the elder Heilman family again pushed westward, this time settling in Scott County, Iowa. In September, 1861 in Cedar County, Mr. Heilman was married to Miss Phytamia Conway. They remained in Iowa until in 1878, he with his family consisting then of his wife and three sons, Sigel Grant and Ben, and other families outfitted nine wagons and with their oxen, mules 50 head of Durham cattle came to Colorado, stopping first at Erie Colorado. From there, they went to Valmont, in Boulder county, and he with some others of his party made an exploratory trip into the "San Juan Country" as it was then called. They crossed La Veta Pass, and overtook others going into the "Great San Juan" (This country had already become famous for it rich discoveries of ore in both Summitville, and the San Juan.) Our pioneer struck the Rio Grande at near Alamosa, and come on west, in the La Garita country and the Del Norte. He decided to go south into what is now New Mexico, but the followed the old conejos road and settled on Rock Creek, in the San Luis Valley, right in the shadow of the pictured rocks of that section, and there he started the first white settlement in the Rock Creek district. The following year in 1874 they brought their families and Mr. Heilman made that his home continuously until 17 years ago, when he went to live with his son Sigel in Denver, and also spent part of the time in New Mexico. The funeral was held in Monte Vista on Sunday afternoon, the 19th and interment made in the old Rock Creek cemetery, where lie many of the first settlers of the Rio Grande County. His wife preceded him in 1906, and one son, Grant, are buried in the Heilman lot, by his side. He is survived by four sons, Samuel Sigel of Denver, Benjamin C. of Crawford, Grayson P. of Alamosa and John of Summitville, all of Colorado, and two daughters, Mes. Stearns of Carrizozo, N.M. and Mrs. H. C. Adams of El Paso, Texas. The funeral was attended by many of the members of his family, and pioneers from that section who knew and loved the venerable frontiersman, who did so much for the present generation.
Spouses and Children
1. *Phytamia Conway
Marriage: 11 Sep 1861 - Scott CO, IA
Status:
Children:
1. Sigel Samuel Heilman
2. Grant A. Heilman
3. Benjamin C. Heilman
4. Grayson P Heilman
5. John Heilman
6. Heilman
7. Daisy Heilman
Notes
General:
In 1874 he built a log house on what was later known as the Gottlieb Mueller's Ranch, near Valmont, Boulder County, Colorado. He was one of the incorporators of the town of Lariat.Marriage Notes (Phytamia Conway)
This is an exact copy of the contents of a letter written by John B. Heilman on Nov 3, 1935: Mrs. Margaret Hill Nisbet, PA Dear Margaret: We do not have your letter as I sent it on to my sister, Lestie in Chicago. I imagine she has written to you by now. I believe we must be first cousins, and I would enjoy hearing from you again. I am going to Denver and if you care to write to me, my address will be 2749 Decatur St., Denver, Colorado. I will be up there about a month. I will send you a picture of myself taken on a horse as soon as they are finished. I would like to have one of you and also hear from you again. Yours Sincerely, John B. Heilman
Source: Letter Author: Charles D. Weidenhamer Date: 1952
Location: Clare Hummer Hileman
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Living with the Heilmans in 1900 was a grandson Manfred b.1882 in Colorado his parents were born in Iowa and Missouri.
It was at Inland, Cedar County, Iowa where on the 20th day of September, settin' out in front of a grocery store in the main street of the town, I motioned for the old preacher to come over. I wanted to see him. And your mother, Phytamia Conaway, and I were married right there. But, say, I had to treat the boys afterwards, though.