Elizabeth Zabriskie Perry
1828 - 1902

Ancestral Background
I, Elizabeth Zabriskie was born in Vermillion Co., Indiana, the 20 Aug 1828, the fifth child of Abraham Zabriskie and Susannah Holtz.

My paternal emigrant ancestor was Albrect Zaborouskey, a Polish-Russian who came to America in 1662. I am of Dutch and German descent through the lineage of both my grandmothers.

Mostly they were of the Dutch Reformed Church and were very strict in their beliefs as well as their behavior. They were an industrious and thrifty people. Always reaching out for a better way of life, Albrect was well educated and had a knack of getting along with people. He was friendly with the Indians and counted some of the great chiefs as his personal and most trusted friends. He proved to be a great help to the early settlers in their dealings with the Indians. I mention these things here as a back- ground for my life and the things I did and endured.

Father was born in Genoa, Cayugo Co., New York November 21, 1792. Mother was born June 1, 1800 in Penn. In 1814 father moved west with his parents to Hamilton Co., Ohio, then into Johnson Co., Indiana and in 1823 went to Vermillion Co., Indiana At the same time my maternal grandmother and her second husband, Henry Bruner were moving west. I had four brothers, Christian who died young; William who became a successful merchant in Farley, Platte Co., Mo.; Morgan and Henry; four sisters Zabina, Juliana, Jane and Susanna. Susanna died as an infant. Abraham and Susannah met at Farley, Platte Co., Mo and were married February 18, 1818. Mother died May 9, 1854 and Father July 30, 1854, they were both buried at Farley, Platte, Mo.

Married Henry Elisha Perry
It was in Platte Co. where I met and married Henry Elisha Perry. He was working for a very wealthy man, running a 12,000 acre farm and over seeing a freight outfit, the man owned. This man had no children of his own and offered to make Henry his heir if he would stay with him and give up his religion.

Moved to Utah
Henry freighted for four years and then we felt the call to move to Utah with the Saints. I had inherited 40 acres of land from my father and some money. We were unable to sell the land so we just left it for who ever wished to take it. My money with what Henry had been able to save outfitted us very well for the trip to Utah. We had one team of horses and 6 yoke of oxen, 2 wagons, our supplies, our household belongings, a milk cow and two little girls.

Captain John Hindly was in charge of our Company, made up of 200 people
comprising 45 wagons. Henry, his brother Alonzo and family, several close friends and neighbors made up most of the company. We left Mormon Grove 7 June 1855.

Henry and Alonzo were both good shots and were sent out to get buffalo for the company.

I and my little 5 year old daughter Susan walked most of the way across the plains, driving the milk cows and carrying baby Eunice. We figured out an easy way to do our churning. We tied the churn to the back of the wagon; put our cream in and presto in a short while we had our butter. That rough road really joggled things around.

We were never molested by the Indians. The trail was long and hard and dusty and we were glad to arrive in Utah. That was Monday the 3rd day of Sep. 1855.

Settled in Three Mile CreekWe rested a few days, and then headed north. We traveled one day as far as Farmington, where we stopped to visit relatives and friends and then pushed on to Three Mile Creek in Box Elder, where Father Gustavus Adolphus Perry and brother Lorenzo had already settled the year before. They had taken up considerable land and now divided with Alonzo and Henry.

Our share was good farm and some pasture land. We raised some sheep. The men would shear the sheep, then I would wash, card and spin it, then weave it into cloth for our clothing. I made all our clothing, from men’s suits and coats to pinafores for the baby. The Indians taught the women and girls of the community how to tan the deer hides. I and my girls learned and then we fashioned our own shoes.

We soon had fruit trees planted and within a few years we had a prosperous family farm, raising our own fruit, vegetables, grain and live stock. Enough for the family and to share with others, with some left over to sell or trade for things we needed and could not make, like a pair of store bought shoes. We had the first yellow peach raised in Three Mile Creek. In addition Henry built a lean too onto our cabin and set up a small mercantile business. The tending of which fell to my lot.

Our first home was very primitive, built of quaking aspen logs, the space between the logs were chinked with mud and chunks of wood. The roof rested on heavy poles, stretching from one gable to another. These were covered first with willows or cane made into bundles, placed over cross boards and covered with dirt. We had only one room with a dirt floor that first year.

Henry made most of the furniture which consisted of just the bare necessities. A bed, a trundle bed that slipped under the big bed during the day, a table, some benches and a few things we had brought with us, among which was a captains chair, which we prized very much. We had a fire place and greased paper for window panes. But we were proud of our little cabin, and were thankful we could sleep in peace, not listening for a mob outside. We added to and improved it as our family grew and as we could afford it.

We did not dare let our fire go out as it was hard to start another. There were no matches and a flint lock was hard work. So we banked our fire and kept live coals at all times.

For light we used a saucer filled with oil or grease, mostly tallow, with a piece of cloth tied around a button and dropped into the saucer, then we set it alight. These were called grease dips or
bitches. In the 60's we made molds and made our own candles of tallow, which was a great improvement.

Most of our dishes were made of tin and the spoons of wood. Our mattresses were made of heavy ticking or muslin called, factory, filled with fresh straw or cat tails. This was changed about once a year. Getting into a bed of fresh straw was a sticky business, for the first few nights, all one could do was break off the ends sticking into your back.

We made our flour by putting wheat on a large flat rock, crushing and rubbing in until it was fine enough to mix. We only ground enough for one batch at a time. We baked in a covered iron pan, placed in a bed of hot coals in the fire place, covered it with hot coals and let it bake. Needless to say we were grateful when some flour mills were built in the area. We also made our own soap on an outdoor camp fire. We had to make our own lye by saving our wood ashes.
I worked hard, but every other woman in the community worked just as hard and we did not complain. We make the best of our lot and were happy in the doing. For recreation we went sego lily bulb digging, held rag bees, quilting bees and dances and spelling bees.

Children
I am the mother of eight children, three boys and five girls:
Susan Amelia, born 2 June 1849 at Pottawattamie Co, Iowa
Eunice Jane born 18 Nov 1854 at Farley, Platte, Mo.
Henry Morgan born 3 Dec 1856
Rosalie Elvira born 15 Feb 1859
Hyrum Elisha born 20 Mar 1861
Margaret Melvina born 9 May 1863
Heber William born 25 Oct 1866
Lucy Elizabeth born 11 June 1870
All born at Three Mile Creek, Box Elder, Utah

It was with a heavy heart that in the fall of 1857 we moved south with the other settlers to await the coming of Johnson’s Army. We thought all would be desolation when we returned, but no, we found a good crop of volunteer wheat just ready to harvest and we were filled with thanks to our Heavenly Father for his goodness to us. Our homes were safe and we had feed for man and beast.

Church Service
Henry was presiding Elder for several years before the town was organized into wards. He was also captain of a company of militia to guard against Indians.

My father never joined the Mormon Church and I do not know the date of my Mothers baptism. Early church records just state she was in the church, so on advice of Church Authorities we had it done vicariously in June 18, when we did fathers work for him. I was baptized a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints the 15 June 1847 in Iowa.

I was present at the organization of the Three Mile Ward Relief Society the 29 July 1875 and signed my name as a charter member. At a meeting held 4 Aug 1875 four teachers were appointed; two for the north district and two for the south district. I with Sister Jeanette McDonald was chosen for the south district. August 28, 1866 a committee of three was appointed to look after the storing of grain. I was one of those chosen for this responsibility. April 1878 a mulberry grove was set out and I was appointed to care for the silk worms for one year. It was about this time that my health began to fail me and I with regret asked to be released from my duties as a Relief Society Teacher, the long walk was just too much for me.

April 2, 1886 I was sustained as First Councilor to Sister Jane Perry. 1886 was a trying year for the Saints and as Relief Society Sisters, we received much strength from the testimonies borne at Relief Society. I remember one testimony Sister Jane Perry bore that inspired me to testify that "All the world is arrayed against us as a people, but if we have the Lord on our side we need not fear for he has helped His people in the past and will in the future if we seek to serve him and keep His commandments." In August 1891 our president Jane Perry passed away and a new president was sustained. So I was relieved of my duties at this time. I served as First Councilor 1886-1891, a period of five years.

Husband passed Away-moved to RocklandMy husband passed away in 1875 and at my age I felt it impossible to carry on with the farm, so after my release from the Relief Society I turned my interest in the farm over to my sons and went to Rockland, Power, Idaho to stay at the home of my daughter Rosalie. For eleven years I stayed here, with visits to the homes of the other children.

Elizabeth Zabriskie Perry died at Rockland, Power, Idaho the 23 April 1902, her body was brought by team pulling a white top buggy from Rockland to Perry where services wee held and burial was in the Brigham City Cemetery at Brigham City, Box Elder, Utah.

Funeral Services
From the Box Elder News of Thursday 1 May 1902 we have this account of her funeral service. Quote:

“Sunday after noon in place of regular services the funeral service of Elizabeth Perry were held. Sister Perry or as she is better known, Aunt Betsy, was one of the oldest settlers of this place, having come here with her husband and family in 1855. She was one of those who passed through a great deal of the hardships and mobbing experience by those who belonged to the Church in early days. She would have been 74 years next August had she lived. JD Peters, Perry Bingham, Pres Chas Kelly, Geo Davis, A Madson, Barnard White, Wm Horsley, Bishop Nelson were the speakers.
“All praised Aunt Betsy for her integrity and honesty of purpose. She died a faithful LDS Member. The Musical exercises were conducted by James Young, who also conducted the music at the funeral of her husband which occurred in 1875. Signed "Uncle" Unquote.

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I, Alda Crawford Call, a great Grand Daughter of Elizabeth remember grandmother Elizabeth, when she was living at the home of Aunt Rosalie and Uncle Jude May. I sat on her lap and listened to her stories and loved her very much.

I remember some of her choice sayings to fit different Occasions. "Do not argue with your friends, because the more you stir up the trouble the bigger it gets.” Another, she loved to quote from Shakespeare, "Even this shall pass away." "Always do the best you can, keep faith and God will watch over you."

Elizabeth Zabriskie Perry was a choice soul and we her posterity should be very proud to call her MOTHER.

Information Sources:
Information for this sketch was obtained from Family Bible kept by Susan Amelia Perry Crawford; Three Mile Creek Ward records; Early Church records searched at Gen Lib Salt Lake City; Minutes of the Three Mile Creek Relief Society, searched out by a great grand daughter in law, Vera Pay Larson; Crossing the Plains; personal Knowledge of Grandmother Elizabeth; Logan Temple records of sealings 1885; John Perry of London by Bertram Adams; The Zabriskie Family by George Olin Zabriskie.