Beecroft/Becraft Ancestors



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John B. Heilman and Phytamia Conway

Husband John B. Heilman [3190] 

           Born: 24 Jul 1836 - Lycoming Co, PA
     Christened: 
           Died: 21 Jul 1936 - Carrizozo, New Mexico, United States
         Buried:  - Rock Creek Cemetery, Rio Grande, Colorado, United States 1
FamilySearch ID: KNBG-8T6
Find A Grave ID: 53756604

       Marriage: 11 Sep 1861 - Cedar, Iowa, United States

Events

• He appeared on the 1880 Census census in 1880 in Del Norte, Rio Grande, Colorado, United States. 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.

• He appeared on the 1920 Census census in 1920 in Denver, Denver, Colorado, United States. Sigel Heilman is listed age 52, with wife Vina B age 47; daughter Ruth age 12 and father John B Heilman age 83.

• His obituary was published in the Obituary on 24 Jul 1936 in Pagosa Springs, Archuleta, Colorado, United States.

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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.
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Wife Phytamia Conway [3192] 

           Born: 8 Jul 1844 - Ohio, United States
     Christened: 
           Died: 25 Aug 1906 - Monte Vista, Rio Grande, Colorado, United States
         Buried: 27 Aug 1906 - Rock Creek Cemetery, Monte Vista, Rio Grande Co, CO
FamilySearch ID: K2NT-QX7
Find A Grave ID: 53756601

Events

• Her obituary was published in 1906. Died: -- At Durango, August 25, Mrs. John B. Heilman who for many years was resident of Rock Creek. Funeral services were held at the Presbyterian church, Monte Vista, Monday and the remains were buried in the Rock Creek cemetery.

• She appeared on the 1930 Census census in 1930 in Del Norte, Rio Grande, Colorado, United States. 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.

Children
1 M Sigel Samuel Heilman [772] 

           Born: 7 Oct 1862 - Scott, Iowa, United States
     Christened: 
           Died: 8 Mar 1941 - Denver, Denver, Colorado, United States 2
         Buried:  - Crown Hill Cemetery, Wheat Ridge, Jefferson Co, CO 3
FamilySearch ID: L6CQ-P4W
Find A Grave ID: 199332011

         Spouse: Emma Hortense Shotwell 4 [3200] (1870-1892)
           Marr: 15 May 1887 - Monte Vista, Rio Grande, Colorado, United States

         Spouse: Lavinia Catherine "Vina" Becraft 5 [625] (1873-1957)
           Marr: 11 Mar 1893 - Greenwood, Kansas, United States

2 M Grant A. Heilman [3191] 

           Born: 4 Jun 1865 - Davenport, Scott, Iowa, United States 6
     Christened: 
           Died: 14 May 1913 - Monta Vista, Santa Clara, California, United States 6
         Buried:  - Monte Vista Cemetery, Monte Vista, Rio Grande, Colorado, United States
FamilySearch ID: KNBL-PL9

         Spouse: Virigina Carrie Shock 6 [18571] (1869-1970)
           Marr: 10 Feb 1891 - Colorado, United States 6

3 M Benjamin C. Heilman [3193] 

           Born: 22 May 1871 - Scott, Iowa, United States 7
     Christened: 
           Died: 5 Mar 1950 - El Paso, El Paso, Texas, United States 7
         Buried: 
FamilySearch ID: KNBP-LRS

         Spouse: Lulu A. Wright 7 [18570] (1872-1922)
           Marr: 2 Apr 1898 - Greeley, Weld, Colorado, United States 7

4 M Grayson Provo Heilman [3194] 8 

           Born: 7 May 1877 - Colorado, United States
     Christened: 
           Died: 15 Jun 1971 - La Veta, Huerfano, CO
         Buried: 
FamilySearch ID: KNBG-D77

         Spouse: Mary Estes 9 [18572] (1877-1953)
           Marr: 1897 - Colorado, United States 9

5 M John Heilman [3195] 

           Born: 11 Mar 1886 - Rio Grande, Colorado, United States 10
     Christened: 
           Died: Jan 1963 - Colorado, United States 10
         Buried: 
FamilySearch ID: KNBG-DW9






6  F  Irene Mary "Bunny" Heilman [3196] 11





           Born: 16 Apr 1880 - Del Norte, Rio Grande, Colorado, United States 12
     Christened: 
           Died: 28 Oct 1967 - El Paso, El Paso, Texas, United States 12
         Buried: 30 Oct 1967 - Restlawn Memorial Park, El Paso, Texaas 12
FamilySearch ID: LCZ7-Y75



         Spouse: Stearns [3198] (      -      )






7  F  Daisy Bell Heilman [3197] 13





           Born: 23 Dec 1873 - Iowa, United States 13
     Christened: 
           Died: 8 Apr 1914 - Baker City, Baker, Oregon, United States 13
         Buried: 
FamilySearch ID: L7N2-1QB



         Spouse: H.C. Adams [3199] (      -      )









Burial Notes: Husband - John B. Heilman



Block 3


General Notes: Husband - John B. Heilman



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.

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.


Burial Notes: Wife - Phytamia Conway



BLOCK THREE: Starting South end, going North.
Phytama Heilman
1844 - 1906
John B. Heilman
1835 - 1935


General Notes: Wife - Phytamia Conway



On May 10, 1873 I my wife and 3 boys - Samuel Sigel, Grant & Ben - together with the families of Larick, McOllough, Caden, Kincaid, Whipple, howard, & Blair, nine wagons, oxen, mules, and cattle (50 head of Durhams) started for Colorado and the west.


Notes: Marriage (Phytamia Conway): 



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.


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Sources




1
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, "FamilySearch Family Tree," database, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org : accessed 21 Nov 2025), entry for John B. Heilman, person ID KNBG-8T6. 

2
dad1037@yahoo.com (Emails, etc from her sources.).

3
Findagrave.com.

4
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, "FamilySearch Family Tree," database, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org : accessed 20 Nov 2025), entry for Emma H Shotewill, person ID KNBG-81P. 

5
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, "FamilySearch Family Tree," database, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org : accessed 5 Nov 2025), entry for Nancy Ann Anthony, person ID K6GP-BSX. 

6
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, "FamilySearch Family Tree," database, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org : accessed 20 Nov 2025), entry for Grant A. Heilman, person ID KNBL-PL9. 

7
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, "FamilySearch Family Tree," database, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org : accessed 20 Nov 2025), entry for Benjamin C. Heilman, person ID KNBP-LRS. 

8
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, "FamilySearch Family Tree," database, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org : accessed 20 Nov 2025), entry for Grayson P Heilman, person ID KNBG-D77. 

9
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, "FamilySearch Family Tree," database, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org : accessed 20 Nov 2025), entry for Grayson Provo Heilman, person ID KNBG-D77. 

10
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, "FamilySearch Family Tree," database, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org : accessed 21 Nov 2025), entry for John Heilman, person ID KNBG-DW9. 

11
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, "FamilySearch Family Tree," database, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org : accessed 21 Nov 2025) Heilman, person ID LCZ7-Y75. 

12
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, "FamilySearch Family Tree," database, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org : accessed 21 Nov 2025), entry for Irene Mary "Bunny" Heilman, person ID LCZ7-Y75. 

13
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, "FamilySearch Family Tree," database, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org : accessed 20 Nov 2025), entry for Daisy Heilman, person ID L7N2-1QB. 







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