Sylvester Lyman Perry

Birthday: Jan. 2, 1833, Lewis, Essex, New York.

Death: July 6, 1908, Slaterville, Weber, Utah

Buried: July 9, 1908, Ogden City Cemetery, Ogden, Weber, Utah

Parents: Stephen Perry and Rhoby Edwards

Spouse: Nancy Ann Shaffer

Marriage: Jan. 22, 1855, Bingham Fort, Weber, Utah.

A few interesting things about Sylvester:

* Sylvester was baptized a member of the LDS Church when he was 10 years old on Jan. 2, 1844, in the Mississippi River, Nauvoo, Hancock, Illinois.

*He came to Utah with the Thomas Jeremy Co. in 1850, when he was 17 yrs. old.

*He was part of 2 rescue missions sent out to help struggling pioneers. The first in 1856. The second in 1863. On the first mission, his feet froze really bad. This bothered him the rest of his life.

*He participated in the strategy to outwit Johnston's army in 1858, by marching up and down a hill in Echo Canyon. He became ill and was sent home early.

*He made bullets and became an expert coffin maker.

*He was friendly with the local Indians. They trusted him and visited frequently. If they had more meat than they could carry, they would drop it off at his place to store. The squaws liked to visit during apple season harvest.

*He was a member of the 60th group of 70s.

*By trade, he was a carpenter.

*Sylvester was the father of 7 children. (2 sons, 5 daughters)

One of my favorite stories about him

"About the middle of October 1855, less than a year after they were married, he asked Nancy Ann to prepare a 'bundle of white' because he had been invited to perform a baptism. On the day of October 18th, she went toward him with two bundles. He thought she had misunderstood, and taking one, he told her that was all he needed, then asked her why she brought two. Modestly, she replied, "I want to be baptized, and I hoped you could do it"."

Sources: "Pioneers and Prominent Men of Utah", "Life Sketch of Sylvester Lyman Perry: Daughters of the Utah Pioneer Museum"