HISTORY OF STEPHEN PERRY cont. page 7 caught up in the excitement? Was he a promontory point for the ceremony of the "Golden Spike"? Utah was no longer isolated. Instead of two or three months of hardship to reach Utah from Iowa, it could now be done in a few days, riding in comfort on a train. Two of the passengers on the train that year were two sons of Joseph Smith, named Alexander Hale Smith and David Hyrum Smith.(8) Two, other brothers came later and they brought other men with them. These men came as Missionaries for the Re-organized Church. They made several trips and succeeded in persuading a lot of people to return to Iowa and Nebraska with them. Stephen was one of these people. STEPHENS LAST YEARS, living in Iowa 1870-1886 75 to 92 years of age Stephen was probably delighted to meet Joseph Smith's sons. Men whom he had known as boys, in happier times, when Joseph was still alive and life was good. Was he converted by them. we don't know. In May (16) 1870 he was baptized into the Reorganized Church by E.C. Brand in Ogden, Utah. There is no mention of a wife at this time. (6) Either before this event or after, he was given a blessing "that he would live until satisfied with his life." Was this his "Achilles Heel"? Had all the years of watching Rhoby die by inches, suffering great pain as she did so affected him with a fear of dying in the same manner? I'm sure that he was also influenced by the prospect of riding that wonderful train; of re-tracing the the route that he had trod 20 years ago in the relative comfort of a train; of re-visiting Kanseville, Iowa, which brought back happy memories. Some one was paying attention to him and making him feel important. This probably influenced him also. He returned to Iowa with these men and lived there until his death. In 1876 Alonzo Orson Perry went on a mission to the north Eastern states. On his way home he stopped to see his father and tried to persuade him to return to Utah. In this he was not successful. Stephen died in Iowa at Gallands Grove, Shelby County on 29 Dec ember. His passing was peaceful, without pain or suffering. He was four months past his 92nd year. E.C. Brand officiated at his funereal. After his death Alonzo applied to the Church authorities to have his baptism re-done. This was granted and the work performed on 27 September, 1894. Postscript: I have read all the histories that have been submitted and have also used historical writings to fill in the blanks which the histories don't provide. (1) History of Sylvester Lyman Perry edited by Ruth Rampton (2) Beneath Ben Lomands Peak by Milton R. Hunter (3) History of Slaterville by Jerome Wheeler (5) Josiah Henry's history (6) "The Saints Herald" Re-organized Church paper 224