Through the storytelling ability of Heaton Lunt comes his experiences in some major historical events. Heaton served as one of the scouts in 1916 under General John J. Pershing in the Mexico Punitive Expedition. He served in Colonel Robert Howze's column. He captures the hardships and sacrifices of the United States Army, how airplanes and motor transport trucks were first used. He shares his experiences that he had with the Apache Indian scouts and how they murdered a Mexican man. The turbulent times of the Mexican Revolution changed his life and left him penniless. He had to leave his home and all his cattle and belongings in Pacheco and fled with other refugees to El Paso, Texas in the Mormon Exodus of 1912. To make ends meet Heaton and other men sneaked into the mountains to gather their cattle and bring them down the treacherous mountainside under the nose of a rebel army. He tells how a fog rolled in and kept them from being hanged. During the revolution he recounts how the rebel bandits raided his home, stole guns, horses and saddles and food. In one raid they kidnapped his son. Growing up in the small village of Colonia Pacheco he had very little education, yet he became acquainted with some prominent men: Colonel William C. Greene, Captain Charles Davis the Mayor of El Paso, and Senator Albert B. Fall. Using his gift of storytelling he tells of his childhood about herding pigs along the river, herding cattle, bullfights, learning how to be an expert marksman and learning to ride broncs. While living in El Paso the Lunts had a very hard time making a living. So, when Junius Romney and Edward Lunt found land available on the Upper Gila River in Duncan, Arizona Heaton checked it out. He purchased some land and became a successful farmer and raised a large family. He tells about clearing land, enduring raging floods, dealing with the hardships brought on by the Great Depression, hiring German and Italian prisoners during World War II. Heaton was the son of Henry and Sarah Lunt. They had eight sons. Not only does Heaton's story tell about him but also his noble and valiant mother Sarah. Heaton was very close to his seven brothers, Egerton, Broughton, Edward, Owen, Alma, Clarence and Parley. Their lives were very much entwined so Heaton's story would not be complete without their stories and we include their stories. Even though Heaton had little worldly goods when he was growing up he had loving parents who taught him how to pray and to live a life of integrity and how to work. In Duncan Heaton matured into a respected man in the community, managed a successful business and was a much loved bishop of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. His sermons captivated audiences because he told stories from his life that vividly portrayed the point that he wanted to drive home. He was instrumental in sending a lot of young men and women on missions for the church. As one of his little grandsons asked when he walked out to Grandpa Heaton while he was irrigation, "Grandpa, can you tell stories outside?" Follow Heaton's journey from being a herd boy, an adventurous youth, a courageous man that could laugh during oppression and hard times. And how he lost everything, but started all over and became a beloved husband and father and grandfather.
About the Author: Marian Lunt has written The Family of Mada Lee Pharis, Chloe Haws Lunt, A Legacy Bequeathed, co-authored the book, A House By The Side of The Road and William Wallace Haws, Weaving Lives Together. Marian Lunt is the daughter-in-law to Heaton Lunt and lives on the homestead that Heaton purchased in 1917.