Gustavus Adolphus Perry
Gustavus Adolphus Perry was born 4 January 1797 in Wilton, Hillsborough, New Hampshire. He was the oldest of six children His parents were Abijah Perry Jr. and Elizabeth (Betsy) Tippets or Tippetts. His brothers and sisters soon followed. Marie Anne 18 January 1798 (an invalid) Samuel Greeley born 10 October 1799. Caroline Matilda, born 4 February 1801, Phoebe, born 19 September 1804 and Ebenezer, born about 1805. The family was living in New York when the last two children were born. They moved in 1801.
His father, Abijah, died in 1804. His mother was soon married to Jeremiah Emery. Gustavus did not get along well with him and went to live with his grandparents, John and Phebe Austin Tippets. His brothers and sisters also lived with relatives. He was about ten years of age, and lived with them until his marriage in 1816.
Gustavus married Eunice Wing. They lived on a farm in Lewis, Essex County, New York. They had eight children born to them. Orrin Alonzo 11 September 1817, Rosalie Elvira 18 November 1819, Amanda Melvina 11 September 1821, Lorenzo 8 May 1824, Henry Elisha 24 August 1827, Cornelia about 1830 (died as an infant), Lucy Ann 20 May 1839 and Silas born about 1847. The last two were born in Illinois.
The following is a story told about the conversion of the family to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints written by Laura Peters Fifield: "One dark stormy evening close to the year 1830, the Gustavus Perry family were all gathered in the kitchen, the latch strings drawn for the night. The front door opened and they heard someone coming through the house toward the kitchen where the family was assembled. When he entered the kitchen they saw an old man with a long flowing beard. Although it was a stormy night there were no signs of raindrops on his clothes. He said, "God Bless You," and asked for food and asked if he could spend the night with them. Although they were poor and had little bread, they gave him food and shelter. When he came in he had a knapsack on his back with a little pup which he gave the children to play with. During the evening he took from his pocket a book from which he read, telling them that it was soon to come forth and telling them to get one at their first opportunity. As he was leaving the next morning he promised them that they would never want for bread, which promise was literally fulfilled. That very next day a man who owed them some money asked if they would take wheat for the debt. Although it was broad daylight when the stranger left none of the neighbors saw him leave."
A cousin John Harvey Tippets was the first to obtain the book. He had walked 15 miles to get it. As they all read it they were very impressed. When Latter-day Saint Missionaries came through the area they were taught the gospel. In the year 1832 they were baptized and became members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
It is not known just when they went west to join the main body of saints. It may be they lived in Kirtland, Ohio for a short time although there is no proof. But in 1836 they were probably living in Far West, Missouri. His daughter Rosalia was married to Joseph Harrison Tippets. Land was bought for $150 in Clinton County, Missouri . The next move took them to Quincy, Illinois where their daughter Lucy Ann was born in 1839. From there they probably moved to Nauvoo. Records show he donated time and money to the building of the Temple.
Gustavus and his wife Eunice had both received their endowments in the Nauvoo Temple in a special attic room on January 28, 1846. This was one week before the first pioneers started their exodus across the Mississippi.
Gustavus Perry was one of the delegates to the political convention in Nauvoo when Joseph Smith was nominated to be a candidate for President of the United States.
When the saints were driven from Nauvoo, the Perrys were among them. They stayed in Pottawattamie County, Iowa near Councils Bluff until 1852. During this time they were getting prepared to travel west. His sons went to Missouri to get work so they could get needed supplies.
Here he married Sally (Sarah) Jenkins. She was a young woman whose husband had abandoned her. She had a little daughter that lived with the Perrys. On March 22, 1847, Gustavus was sealed in celestial marriage to both Eunice Wing and Sally Jenkins. Brigham Young performed the ceremony at a 'candle lighting.'
In 1852, the Gustavus Perry family and the son-in-law Joseph Harrison Tippets family joined the John B. Walker company to head for the Rocky Mountains. They arrived in Utah about the 5th of October 1852. They first settled in North Cottonwood (Bountiful area) about 16 miles north of Salt Lake City. They settled in Farmington. His son Lorenzo had arrived in the valley earlier and had gone to work for the Harris Park family. While living there Gustavus married a third wife, Elizabeth Wray Walker. Her husband had left her to go to California to find gold. They were sealed 10 April 1853 in the Endowment House.
A son of Gustavus and a daughter of Elizabeth, Lorenzo Perry and May Wray Walker, were married 1 May 1853. The young couple left for Three Mile Creek, a new settlement south of Brigham City. Gustavus stayed in Farmington for about two years. By 1854 he too had moved to Three Mile Creek. He bought land near Lorenzo. His cousin William Plummer Tippets had also settled there. Soon others settled here as well. His son Henry organized a small cooperative store. It also served as a post office. They all farmed.
In 1898 the name Three Mile Creek was changed to Perry. There were several Perrys living there. It could have been named after Lorenzo because he was one of the first settlers. Or it could have been named after Gustavus who was called to be the first Presiding Elder from 1855 to 1856. Some say it was named after Alexander Perry who was not related, a Scottish bachelor who settled there. But from the Brigham City Bugler newspaper, we find it was named in honor of Gustavus' son who was actually the first Bishop for fourteen years.
Gustavus and wives Eunice and Elizabeth lived in Three Mile Creek the rest of their lives. Eunice died before 1860 (she was not listed on that census of 1860) Gustavus Adolphus Perry died 2 May 1868 at the age of 71. He is buried in the Brigham City Cemetery.
He had been a faithful Latter-day Saint. He was determined to follow the Prophet, whoever it was. He was steadfast in quiet service and loyal to the Church. He was a valiant pioneer who gave his descendants an excellent example to follow.
Taken from the Perry book by Ted Perry. Compiled by Colleen Tippets, wife of John Tippets a great great great grandson.