John Perry

John Perry was born 22 June 1799, in Bishops Frome, Herefordshire. He became a master carpenter, cabinet maker and wheelwright. John married Grace Ann Williams 14 November 1822. After their marriage, they lived in Ashperton, Herefordshire, where they had nine children. They were members of the United Brethren where John was one of their ministers. After hearing Wilford Woodruff preach, he was baptized 8 March into the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

Four of the Perry children died before they sailed to the USA. On Monday, September 7, 1840, John Perry boarded the ship “North America” along with his wife, Grace Ann Williams Perry, and 5 remaining children, Eliza Ann, Alice, Elizabeth Melissa, William and John. They were among some two hundred members of the United Brethren who sailed to America on that ship.  The company arrived at Nauvoo on the 24th day of November 1840. Their son, William, died on the ship and was buried on Staten Island. Upon reaching Nauvoo, John's ability as a master carpenter and joiner was soon appreciated, and he was assigned some of the most technical work on the temple. While in Nauvoo, their son, John, and daughter, Alice, both died. This left but two children, Eliza and Elizabeth. Upon being driven from Nauvoo in the spring of 1846, they joined the Saints in Winter Quarters. John was fully occupied in helping to erect shelters for his own family and other Saints. They started their westward journey on 19 June 1847, arriving at the Old Fort 3 October 1847. This was the ninth company to arrive at the Salt Lake Valley. They remained in the fort until April 1848 when they settled in what is today known as Bountiful. There they cultivated the soil and fought the crickets at the time of the Saint's miraculous help from the seagulls. On 8 September 1850, he was sustained as a member of the first stake high council in Utah.

On 28 August 1852, John was called on a mission to England.  He arrived in January of 1853 and was assigned to Herefordshire. He was later appointed to preside over the Wiltshire Conference and was released 5 May 1855. On his way home upon reaching Mormon Grove, Kansas, he was stricken with cholera and after eight hours he died.  He was a gifted singer, and one who was there at Mormon Grove, relates that he spent hours singing hymns just before his death.

One day while attending to her household duties, Grace, John's wife, happened to glance out the door and was surprised to see a tree standing in the pasture some distance from the house. She realized immediately that there was no tree in that location so decided to investigate the phenomenon. As she approached the spot, she saw a man standing beneath the tree. The apparition then disappeared, and she returned to the house meditating upon the significance of the affair. She was not to learn of its meaning until the next company of immigrants entered the valley and brought her word of her husband's death.

John died 18 July 1855, at Mormon Grove, Kansas - Age 56.