SYLVESTER LYMAN PERRY Life Sketch Sylvester Lyman Perry, born 2 January, 1833, at Lewis, Essex County, New York, was the sixth child of a family of seven born to Stephen Perry and Rhoby Edwards, daughter of Joseph Edwards and Olive Green of Chester and Windsor, Vermont. He is a descendant of John Perry, Sr., born in England, who was the first of the family to come to America. John Perry, Sr., arrived in America in the year 1631 and became a member of the Roxbury Church. He is of the same lineage as Oliver Hazard Perry, American Naval Officer born 23 Aug., 1785, who was commissioned lieutenant in 1807 at the age of 22 and was given the command of the schooner, "Revenge." From February to August, 1813, on Lake Erie he superintended the construction and equipment of nine vessels and manned them. On September 10th he succeeded in getting his fleet out of port and brought the British to an engagement which resulted in a complete victory for the Americans. Sylvester Lyman's second great-grandfather. Captain Amos Perry, and his third great-grandfather. Captain Joseph Perry, both served in the American Revolutionary War. These two forefathers possessed great courage, and had faith in a democracy based on freedom. The parents of Sylvester were devout members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. However, they were restless in their ideas concerning progression and religious freedom. As early as 1832, Elders Jared Carter and Elisha Collins, representing the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, visited their home at Lewis, New York, and taught the true principles of faith, repentance, and baptism by immersion. The youngest girl in the family, Sally Sylvia, was baptized March 1832, and the oldest child, Josiah Henry, was baptized in July of the same year. Later two other missionaries. Elders Solomon Humphrey and Joseph Grover, continued to instruct the Perry family concerning the words of the Lord as revealed through Joseph Smith, the Prophet, and all members of the family became filled with the spirit of truth. On 3 September, 1842, the family left their home in New York state and journeyed by ox-team toward Nauvoo, Illinois, arriving there on 6 November, 1842. Their hearts rejoiced at the opportunity of being with the main body of Saints where they could learn and experience from men who were teaching with power and authority. On 2 January, 1844, at the age of 10 years, Sylvester was baptized in the Mississippi River at Nauvoo and confirmed a member of the Church of Jesus Christ. While playing about Nauvoo with other boys he saw the Prophet 227