William Heaton, Sr., was born in Massachusetts in 1782, and died in 1843. He married Miss Martha Bailey in 1804. Mrs. Heaton died June 21, 1872. Mr. Heaton settled with his family in Mt. Pleasant Township, in 1837. Children: Freedom, born in 1805; Maria V., born in 1808; James born in 1812; Horace, born in 1814; Susan, born in 1816; George, born in 1818; Alfred, born in 1820; Lydia, born in 1822; Orson, born in 1824; Roana, born in 1826; William, Jr., born in 1829. Freedom married Thomas L. Jackson, Maria V. married Van Vleck Vedder, and removed from the county. James came to Mt. Pleasant in 1835, being the pioneer of the family; he died in 1837, unmarried; his funeral was the first in the present township. Horace (see his biography below)Susan married Ward P. Lewis, and is now living; her husband died in 1876. George now lives in Kansas. Alfred (see his biography below). Lydia married Harley Derby. Orson is now a resident of Iowa. Roana married Jas. K. Robertson. William Jr. married Miss Elizabeth Hiddleson; they have four children; he served during the war in the 8th Wisconsin Artillery.

Horace Heaton (Son of William Heaton Sr.) was born in Washington county, Vermont, May 23, 1814. Went to Jefferson county, New York, when five years of age, and resided there until the fall of 1836, when he settled in Mt. Pleasant, and made a claim on section 4, he and George O. James being the first settlers in the northeast part of the township. He resided upon his farm until 1864, when he removed to Morrison, and now has charge of the stage route from Morrison to Spring Hill. He was married March 21, 1839, to Sarah Chamberlain, who was born February 28, 1814. Mrs. heaton died September 18, 1867. Children: Gideon c., Martha Jane, War P., Miranda, Nancy, Malissa and Clarissa--twins, and Judson. All the children are dead but Gideon and Nancy. Mr. Heaton was married December 13, 1868, to Mrs Lucy A. Thomas."

Alfred Heaton was born April 28, 1820, in Jefferson county, New York. In 1837 he came to Mt. Pleasant with his father and the family. he made his claim on Section 3 where he still resides. May 11, 1845 he married Miss Eliza Jane Robertson. Children: James W., died in the army; Ellen R. wife of W. P. Hiddleson; Olive A. wife of Oliver King; Alfarata, wife of Frank Babcock; Emily e. wife of N. J. Thomas; Ada J; Susan Kate who died in 1862. Mr. Heaton has made a successful growth with the country and has been well rewarded for the trials of pioneer life. He served during the war in the 8th Illinois Cavalry, the same regiment to which his son, James W. belonged.

Extracted from Bent & Wilson History of Whiteside County Page 300-301