Before settling in Chilliwack, William Prest engaged in freighting on the Cariboo road.

In 1885 they pre-empted 71.6 hectares (177 acres) on the actual mountain which they donated to the Anglican Church as a graveyard in honour of their daughter Susan who was buried there.

[3] As part of the donation, the Anglican Church agreed to allow all members of the Prest family to be buried there for free.

Decades of negotiation finally saw the family and the new owners, Chilliwack Cemeteries agree to these terms on September 5, 2018.

[3] William Prest and Mary "Tata" Benn had 11 children in total and there are dozens of descendants in the town of Chilliwack and surrounding areas.