| Rel Date | Description | Comment and Source |
Sun 01 Nov 1846 | NHF family arrive in St. Louis | History of Utah p. 549 |
1847 | NHF is president of 29th Quorum of Seventy and President of St. Louis Conference | A Conference President then was like a Stake or District President now. St. Louis’ population of LDS fluctuated as high as 10,000 according to some estimates. NHF and family live at #16 Third Street in Jan 1850 St. Louis Membership Records |
Sun 31 Jan 1847 | John & Alice P. Ellison attend LDS Conference | According to Hartley, clerks at the conference counted 1,478 Latter-day Saints living in St. Louis at the time. Click here to read the Hartley article St. Louis and the Nauvoo Exodus by William G. Hartley |
Thu 04 Feb 1847 | Vilate Young marries Charles Franklin Decker at Winter Quarters | She married the brother of her father's first plural wife. www.familysearch.org
marriage # AFN: 198M-03 |
Sat 06 Feb 1847 | BY calls NHF to preside at St. Louis | BY was in Winter Quarters; Joseph Stratton is released
Note: Feb 6 is NHF's birthday Journal History |
Sun 14 Feb 1847 | NHF appointed president of the St. Louis Conference | History of Utah p. 549 |
Thu 01 Apr 1847 | Joseph Stratton complains that NHF wants to be released but would abide counsel | There seems to be some tension between NHF and Joseph Stratton Journal History |
Sun 04 Apr 1847 | Twelve Apostles Write to NHF to encourage saints to emigrate in spring to Winter Quarters
The council directed NHF to tarry and preside. Also all saints in patriarchal order of marriage at S.L. to emigrate; to abstain from dancing; to disfellowship members who were disorderly.
Associated with this letter is one Robert C. Williams who was a tailor and who lived in St. Louis at the time. See URL to BYU Collections | LDSWorld-Gems 150 Years Ago
On the same day a letter was written to Sister Lucy M. Smith inquiring about her with an offer to bring her with the rest of the church. James R. Clark, Messages of the First Presidency, 1:319-21
JH 4 Apr 1847, p.1
The histories of Walter Christian Thomsen and Marjorie June White : their parents (Christian P. Thomsen, Helena K. Jensen, Frederick J. White, Ruth Glass) and their Danish, English and Irish ancestors, -- Subsection Robert C Williams and Emma Nancy Hocken, Page 4 |
Fri 23 Apr 1847 | As leader of church, NHF marries Margaret Buckwalter to Lemon Wickel | Found on Internet and preserved it. Margaret Buckwalter biographical sketch |
Mon 31 May 1847 | Hyde, G. A. Smith, and E. T. Benson remain behind in Iowa to preside over Saints | This is important since NHF would be under their leadership Orson Hyde, Barron, p. 178 |
Thu 23 Sep 1847 | NHF Writes A Letter to Orson Spencer in England who was editor of the Millennial Star | He writes the news of the day including the topics Orson Hyde, Brother Scovil, Brother Robbins, Twelve Apostles, St. Louis Saints, death of George Charman and Brother Beech, W. W. Phelps, War with Mexico which he reasons is why the country is so indifferent to the plight of his fellow Mormons, report of the first pioneer company into Salt Lake valley, William Clayton's invention for measuring distance, Samuel Brannen, Amasa Lyman and the Mormon Battallion and indian attacks.
 Millennial Star vol 9 p 348-349 |
Thu 25 Nov 1847 | BY writes to NHF to forward saints from SL to WQ | BY traveled back from SL Valley to WQ History of Church Volume 7
JH 25 Nov 1847, p.1 |
Sun 05 Dec 1847 | Twelve met at Hyde's house at Council Bluffs and unanimously elected BY as President of Church | Orson Hyde became senior member of Twelve; a position which he was to hold longer than any other man who has been in that position (30 years). Orson Hyde, Barron, p. 181 |
Mon 06 Dec 1847 | First Presidency and Twelve meet again at Hyde's house; decide a temple will be built in Salt Lake; Hyde and Benson sent east for aid to the Church, and Orson Pratt sent to England to relieve Orson Spencer | I wonder what process took place to notify NHF in St Louis. Orson Hyde, Barron, p. 181 |
Fri 31 Dec 1847 | General Conference of Church at WQ sustains new First Presidency | Orson Hyde, Barron, p. 181 |
1848 | Family lore commemorates NHF as the founder of the idea for the “Perpetual Emigration Fund”; NHF made the first donation to the fund directly to BY | Helen Bitner Wilcox wrote stating she remembers a skit that the family did to honor NHF.
As things go, NHF will not be remembered as the originator in all likeliness. However, why wouldn't NHF have been the originator? He was innovative and very active within BY's inner circle at the time. A fund could have been observed from his days in business in Salem, MA.
Interestingly in 1877 we find NHF still in debt to the fund from 1851. That fact makes me wonder why he put off paying the debt. He went on many missions for the church between 1851 and 1877, and he reportedly made a comfortable living as a grain merchant according to his oldest daughter Maggie. On the other hand, we know he ran into financial difficulties late in his life. Family reunion memories |
1848 | NHF is listed as living at 93 S. Third in St. Louis, MO | 1848 St. Louis Directory |
Mon 24 Jan 1848 | Gold discovered at Sutter's Mill in California | This event profoundly affected NHF and the rest of the church. NHF was affected by a major increase in general westward traffic and emigration through St. Louis. |
Tue 01 Feb 1848 | Revelation received by First Presidency and Twelve confirming BY | Received in Hyde's own home; it was an interesting occasion that should be remembered. Journal of Discourses, Vol VIII, p. 234 |
Tue 08 Feb 1848 | BY writes letter of introduction for NHF to meet with William Clayton | William Clayton’s calling was to write the “Emigrants Guide” and publish it in St. Louis with Nathaniel’s help and financial assistance. Journal History
Downloaded from http://relarchive.byu.edu /19th/descriptions/emigrants.html on 6/3/2004 |
Sat 26 Feb 1848 | NHF complains of ill-treatment by John Scott when raising money for Heber C. Kimball | I think HCK was a bit surprised at NHF's letter and complaint. John Scott later served an active and productive "church career." Journal History |
Tue 29 Feb 1848 | Lucius N. Scoville and wife arrange matters with NHF in St. Louis. Scoville was on his way to New Orleans to be the emigration agent for the church. | Click Here for Scoville, Lucius.doc The History Place |
Wed 01 Mar 1848 | NH Felt Meets Lucius Scovil in St. Louis | |
Mon 06 Mar 1848 | Lucius N. Scovil writes to Orson Spencer and mentions NHF | |
Tue 07 Mar 1848 | NHF wrote to BY regarding Clayton's Emigrant's Guide being printed by the Daily Missouri Replublican | 5,000 copies were arranged on first printing Downloaded from http://relarchive.byu.edu
/19th/descriptions/emigrants.html on 6/3/2004 |
Tue 28 Mar 1848 | NHF wrote to BY about Emigrant's Guide being already sold out. | Downloaded from http://relarchive.byu.edu/19th/descriptions/emigrants.html on 6/3/2004 |
1848 | William W. Major arrives in St. Louis to raise money for Willard Richards |
 In November Brigham Young called for missionaries. The first mission calls were extended to Winslow Farr, W. W. Major, and George W. Harris to go to Terra Haute, Indiana.1 In the Spring of 1848 Major went at least as far as St. Louis where he collected funds to aid the 1848 pioneer companies. Elder Nathaniel Felt, President of the St. Louis conference, wrote Willard Richards:
In behalf of the St. Louis Branch, I hereby acknoledge ther receipt of yours [letter] in relation to Bro Major’s mission to this City. We feel grateful for he expressions of kindness from our brethren at Winter Quarters and happy that we have the privilege (in a small degree) of expressing our sense of the responsibility, toil and danger resting upon those of our brethren who went forth upon the ardous duties of traveling the vast unsheltered prairie and mountain fastnesses of a new country to find a place of shelter and peace for a people who desire it is to serve God and keep his commandments...Bro. M’s success was remarkably good at his business at this as well as other places. -- N H Felt"
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Thu 06 Apr 1848 | General Conference of Church sustains Hyde to preside and remain in Pottawatomie lands. | George A. Smith also remained there. Orson Hyde, Barron, p. 182 |
Wed 12 Jul 1848 | NHF greets Woodruff family in St. Louis | This is a curious meeting since Elder Woodruff meets NHF in Cambridge, Mass one month later. This trip also featured Elder Woodruff in Nauvoo and an inspection of the temple.
My discovery of this passage actually comes from LDSWorld-Gems website Woodruff Journal 3:356-58
LDS WorldGems by David Crockett |
Sat 15 Jul 1848 | Orson Hyde visits St. Louis | Hyde was going east to raise money for a printing press. Orson Hyde, Barron, p. 183 |
Tue 01 Aug 1848 | NHF in Lowell and Cambridge | This factoid seems to fit other sources I have regarding his movements at the time. Members & Missionaries of the Lowell, Mass. Branch of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1835-1860
Compiled by Martha Mayo & Connell O’Donovan |
Aug 1848 | NHF visits Salem with his family
| NHF loved his hometown and his family very much. He never missed an opportunity to visit.
O. F. Whiney wrote, "In 1848 President Felt took his family on a visit to their old home in Massachusetts where he was received very kindly by friends and relatives and every inducement offered him but without avail to induce him to give up Mormonism and remain."
Lisa C. of Cedar City wrote, "I know that Abigail (Gray) spoke lovingly of her birth home of Salem, because one of her daughters longed to go there and in fact took her family there on a visit in the early 1920's. They noted that they were not well received in the home of the remaining family members, this information came from the memoirs of her son. " History of Utah, Orson F. Whitney, page 548 |
Sat 12 Aug 1848 | Wilford Woodruff walks to Cambridge to meet NHF and Lewis Robins | My discovery of this passage actually comes form LDSWorld-Gems website Woodruff Journal 3:361-62
LDS World Gems by David Crockett
http://www.crockettclan.org/pioneers/081848.html |
Mon 21 Aug 1848 | Elder Wilford Woodruff writes to Elder O. Spencer about meeting NHF in Boston | |
Tue 22 Aug 1848 | NHF meets his friend Wilford Woodruff in Boston | Nathaniel was traveling away from his St. Louis home base at this time doing business for the church. Much of his work in St. Louis was to secure supplies for the Saints as they left St. Louis and Winter Quarters. NHF was good at negotiating contracts for merchandise. Woodruff journal |
Sat 26 Aug 1848 | NHF receives letter from Dr. Bernhisel | |
Sat 30 Sep 1848 | Hyde writes prospectus for "Frontier Guardian" newspaper in St. Louis | Orson Hyde, Barron, p. 184 |
Sun 08 Oct 1848 | Fire! The Nauvoo Temple burns | The temple was sold to a NY group to become a school. The loss of the temple was a sore blow to everyone that remained in town. Avery, “From Mission to Madness”, p. 32 |
Sun 15 Oct 1848 | Hyde returns to WQ with a new printing press | Orson Hyde, Barron, p. 184 |
Sat 21 Oct 1848 | Hyde conducts special conference of church at Council Bluffs; Oliver Cowdery requests reinstatement at conference. | Orson Hyde, Barron, p. 184 |
Mon 23 Oct 1848 | A. W. Babbitt writs letter accusing Hyde of | |
Mon 23 Oct 1848 | NHF hears from Orson Hyde and GA Smith and ET Benson | Journal History 16 Nov 1848 |
Thu 16 Nov 1848 | NHF reports of Nauvoo temple fire | Nathaniel wrote, “The incendiary torch has been applied.” There are several places in church history where Nathaniel became the reporter of events, because of his good education and keen sense of history. On his way home from Boston he stopped in Nauvoo to see how things were going and saw the fire. When he got back to St. Louis he wrote letter to First Presidency. Journal History
Letter to Orson Pratt who was in England |
Thu 16 Nov 1848 | NHF writes to editor of the Millenniel Star, Orson Pratt | Dear Brother Pratt,
I take the liberty of addressing a few lines to you thinking it would not be unacceptable from this region so near to many that we love and of scenes never to be forgotten I suppose ere this you have heard that the mob not satisfied with depriving twenty thousand inoffensive people of their houses have at last vented their fury upon that House dedicated to the worship of Almighty God as though they would leave no stone unturned to bring down His just vengeance upon their guilty heads Yes the incendiary torch has been applied and nought but the blackened walls of that once beautiful Temple stands forth upon its eminence to show to every traveller the sacrifices of the people of God and the ruthless violence and iniquity of their persecutors The Latter-Day Saints' Millennial Star
We have good news from the valley our beloved president and his counsellors with all the Saints in the valley as far as heard from are enjoying good health and Lord has blessed them with plenty of the fruits of the earth and they hope even have enough to supply all that shall emigrate another year so that they will not to carry more than sufficient to last them to the mountains My last letter was Doctor Bernhisel dated South Pass August 26th He says The Lord is us and has blessed us abundantly By very recent intelligence from the valley we learn that the wheat which has been irrigated will yield from 15 to 20 bushels to acre A large crop of corn has been planted and much of it looks uncommonly and some will yield from 60 to 70 bushels to the acre Melons squashes pumpkins &c are very abundant A large number of teams and waggons were arriving at Bluffs from the valley ready for a fresh start in the spring Smith Benson The Latter-Day Saints' Millennial Star
valley ready spring President O Hyde GA Smith and ET Benson are at Kane Iowa all in good health when I last heard from them Oct 23 Brother Hyde is putting up the press and expects to get out the paper sometime this month He came through here just before my return from the east and I did not have the pleasure of seeing him as he went through They have just through exciting times in this during the The Latter-Day Saints' Millennial Star
They have just got through some very exciting times in this country during the election for President and the Whigs have succeeded in electing General Z Taylor it seems by a large majority from the returns as far as heard from He must have a steady hand to guide the ship of State these stormy times I pity the rulers of the present age for like the king of Prussia their punch bowls I fear will be all the crowns they will hold long The Latter-Day Saints' Millennial Star
they Brother Carter arrived with his company in St Louis November 6th all well and seems in good spirits and as some of them expressed to me had felt the influence of your blessing upon them for while numbers of other passengers on the ship had died not one out of their number had been lost There was I understood brother Carter about 250 in all they have all stopped in St Louis for the winter excepting four families who went up to Alton as I had heard there was employment for some there I believe about all the company got employment immediately on their arrival at this place I remain your brother in the gospel NATHANIEL H FELT The Latter-Day Saints' Millennial Star |
Dec 1848 | NHF confirms brother Parkinson in St. Louis at age 17 | The first people they (the Parkinsons) met in St Louis while they were looking for a place to rent were a Mormon family who directed them to the home of another Mormon family by the name of Clement. This was the first time Samuel or any of his family had heard of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints... less than three months later Samuel was baptized a member of the Church in Chaos Pond where the Union Station now stands in St Louis. Ice had to be broken on the pond in order for the ordinance to be performed. He was baptized by Elder William Clement and confirmed by Nathaniel Felt. He was then seventeen years old. He stated later, "I embraced Mormonism for the love I had for the truth.." |
1849 | Thomas William Winter is ordained to the office of Priest in St. Louis by NHF after immigrating from England. | Winter was the first Bishop of the Salt Lake 5th Ward |
Sun 11 Feb 1849 | 1849: February 11th Elders Augustus Farnham and Alexander Robbins were sustained as counselors to Elder N. H. Felt. | Click here for document Our Pioneer Heritage Volume 5 |
Tue 27 Feb 1849 | Thomas Wrigley was ordained an apostle (Seventy) at the hands of NH Felt and others | Commentary From the webmaster: My late mentor, Elden G. Price (dad’s 2nd cousin), used to tell me I would learn a great deal about NHF if I focused on the St Louis period, and he may have been 'spot on.' The following is an excerpt from the autobiographical sketch by Thomas Wrigley who served with NHF there. What's interesting is the level of creativity NHF used to execute his calling. As we break into the dialog of Wrigley we read about the presiding officers of St Louis which preceded NHF:
“A man by the name of Small was appointed to preside over the branch and he turned out to be very small for he soon backed out and left the Church and went after Sydney Rigdon. The next man appointed to preside was a Richard Riley. He, after a while, left the city and went to Nauvoo but soon returned, a bitter enemy to the church, and then was a man by the name of Aker. He did not stay long but got weak in the faith. Then came Brother Joseph Stratton to preside. He made some improvement on our organization under his presidency but still was far behind our privileges. In the year 1847, Brother Stratton left and gathered with the Church, having the good will and confidence of the brethren. He left behind Brother N. H. Felt (who) was the president appointed to succeed Brother Stratton.
Under the Presidency of Brother Felt the Branch seemed to take a new start and by the Spirit of the Lord he showed forth great wisdom in organizing a Council of Twelve or fifteen members for the benefit of the Branch. The City was laid off into six wards. Two Bishops or Presiding Officers were appointed in each ward to meet in council with the President and his two Councilors. I was appointed a member of that Council and in connection with Brother Thomas Forester to preside over the Second Ward. I filled that office faithfully to the best of my ability. On the 9th day of April, 1848, I was ordained an Elder under the hands of Ezra T. Benson of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles and Elder N. H. Felt.
In the year 1850 (age 34) Brother Felt moved with his family to the valley. Brother Alexander Robbins was appointed to succeed him in the Presidency of the St. Louis Branch. I was called to act as first Councilor to Brother Robbins and Brother John Galigher was Second Councilor. In the year 1849 the 27th day of February, I was ordained an Apostle and Seventy under the hands of Presidents. A. P Rockwood, Augustus Farnham, Loren Babitt, P. Henery and N. H. Felt. Brother Robbins presided one year and in 1851 moved to Great Salt Lake City with his family and effects. Brother Orson Hyde appointed me as Robbins successor to preside over the Saint Louis Conference which numbers about three thousand souls; men, women and children. I filled that office one year. ....
More commentary: Brother Wrigley looked back on his St Louis experience fondly. NHF was the star of the show in his mind. Also interesting was the use of role titles like "Bishop" and "Council of Twelve" which we use differently now. Wrigley also said he was “ordained an Apostle,” but that must have referred to NHF’s band of 12 men that would have functioned like a high council in a stake. NHF functioned like a stake president in the St Louis Conference with 12 men who surrounded him presiding over 6 wards. The organization is similar to Nauvoo, but not the same and it showed discipline. There’s no wonder now to me why Brigham Young and Heber C. Kimball had so much faith in him; so much faith they designated the block where the Conference Center now stands to NHF and his family. Whatta guy NHF was! |
Fri 16 Mar 1849 | NHF married Mr. David Herron to Sophia Caulder. | In looking for the family in St. Louis, a marriage record of a Sophia Caulder was located. The Marriage Record says "Married Mr. David Herron to Wife Sophia Caulder, both of St. Louis by Nathaniel H. Felt, Minister of the Gospel, St. Louis, Mo., Mar. 16, 1849, Filed May 7, 1849" (528147 Index to Marriages - Male 1806 to 1871; 528160 Index to Marriages – Female) |
Wed 04 Apr 1849 | NHF’s future 3rd wife is baptize in Bath, England | Nathaniel Henry Felt, Family Reunion Book of Remembrance Insert, 1960 |
Sun 08 Apr 1849 | NHF appoints George Mason as teacher in St. Louis branch | Found this while surfing the web. Our Pioneer Heritage, Volume 5; The Mormons in St. Louis |
May 1849 | John Parry writes a first-hand account of events in St. Louis | In December of 1848 the Asiatic cholery made its appearance in New Orleans, and thousend of its people died of the plaug during the winter.
In a few days after the death of my wife I sailed up the river in a steam boat for Saint Loues. and during 7 days passeg we had 37 deaths from cholerey, making an averig of 5 per day. This was a terible site, To see men and women In the very bloom of life smiten and In a few hours they ware corps. Very little ceremony was made in buring the dead. The Boat would stop. The hands would dig a trench, and place the corps side by side and huredly cover them up. And no mark left to show the resting place of the dead.
In the first week of May 1849 I arived at St. Louise ware the destroyer was reap ing a rich harvest many of the people had left the City and camped In tents outside of the City. Verey many thousands of Its people died from the pestilence during the warm wether.
On my arival hear I found a large Branch of the Church Presided over by N. H. Felt. During this sumer I was sick with Billious Feaver most all the sumer. And for a time not expected to live. But through the providence of God my life was spared. |
Thu 03 May 1849 | At a council meeting, propriety of procuring some place as a rendezvous for the Saints emigrating from Europe was discussed | Click here for document Our Pioneer Heritage Volume 5 |
Thu 17 May 1849 |  On May 17,1849 at 9:00 p.m. a fire alarm sounded in St. Louis. The paddle wheeled steamboat "The White Cloud" on the river at the foot of Cherry Street was on fire. The volunteer Fire Department with nine hand engines and hose reel wagons promptly responded. The moorings holding the "White Cloud" burned through and the burning steamboat drifted slowly down the Mississippi River setting 22 other steam boats and several flatboats and barges on fire. | The flames leaped from the burning steamboats to buildings on the shore and was soon burning everything on the water front levee for four blocks. The fire extended to Main Street westward and crossing Olive Street. It completely gutted the three blocks between Olive and Second Street and went as far south as Market Street. It then ignited a large copper shop three blocks away and burned out two more city blocks. The volunteer Firemen, after laboring for eight hours, were nearly completely demoralized and exhausted. The entire business district of the city appeared doomed unless something was done. Six businesses in front of the fire were loaded with kegs of black powder and blown up in succession. Captain Thomas B. Targee of Missouri Company No. 5 died while he was spreading powder into Phillips Music store, the last store chosen to be blown up.
This fire was the largest and most destructive fire St. Louis has ever experienced. The fire lasted over 11 hours, from 9:00 p.m. until 8:00 a.m., and caused the loss of three lives, 430 buildings, 23 steamboats, 9 flat boats, and several barges. As a result of these fires a new building code required new structures to be built of stone or brick and an extensive new water and sewage system was started. Wikipedia |
Wed 13 Jun 1849 | NHF account of St. Louis cholera outbreak and terrible fire | This is a very moving episode in NHF’s life
The Hartley article describes the terribleness of Cholera and the fire.
The Latter-Day Saints' Millennial Star Journal History
St. Louis and the Nauvoo Exodus by William G. Hartley |
Thu 14 Jun 1849 | Brother Wm Westwood writes the the saints back in Stourbridge, England regarding emigration. He mentions NHF liberally. | 
The Latter-Day Saints' Millennial Star
The Latter-Day Saints' Millennial Star
The Latter-Day Saints' Millennial Star
The Latter-Day Saints' Millennial Star
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Sat 07 Jul 1849 | Nathaniel H. Felt ordains John T. Caine to office of elder. | Elder Caine's assistance was needed to administer to the sick; cholera History of Utah, Orson F. Whitney, page 672 |
Tue 24 Jul 1849 | First Presidency writes to NHF on Politics and the Priesthood – Priesthood should NEVER be dragged in to gentile political warfare. Background: BY wants to establish the state of Deseret and does not want unnecessary discord with the press and among the Saints. | They exhort him to not be caught up in political strife and to be sure and collect tithing.
I wonder if NHF was a Democrat or a Whig. Orson Hyde was a Whig and Almon W. Babbitt was a Democrat. My guess is that NHF leaned toward Democrat. |
Sat 01 Sep 1849 | NHF divides Gravois Branch into 4 units and is shepherding 3,000 to 4,000 saints | More Precious Than Gold, Woods |
Sat 06 Oct 1849 | Daughter Margaret Eliza Preston Felt is born in Saint Louis | GSL City 17th Ward Records |
Sat 10 Nov 1849 | N. H. Felt is mentioned as raising the ire of William Smith (Joseph’s brother) | Careful study of St. Louis newspapers may reveal an active NHF
Day before yesterday we received a visit from William Smith, brother of "Joe Smith," the founder of the Mormon church, who came to inform us that he felt aggrieved by some recent publications in the Organ -- among which, besides an editorial article, was a communication of Mr. N. H. Felt.
Mr. Smith asserts that he has never been excommunicated by any authorized act of the church; that the mantle of the first prophet, Joseph Smith, has fallen upon the son of Joseph, who is now a youth of 17, living at Nauvoo, and whom he, William, represents as Regent, during the minority of the young prophet.
Mr. Smith did not deny that the Salt Lake Mormons were true to the doctrines of Mormonism, but, he insists that they are animated by a deadly hostility toward the United States, and have taken a solemn oath on the altar to carry those hostile feelings into act, whenever it is possible for them to do so.
Upon Brigham Young, Mr. Smith reflected very severely -- alleging that he (Young) had swindled the "Mormon batallion" out of their bounty money.
By request of Mr. Smith, we insert the following extract from an appeal to the public, signed by himself and Mr. Sheen:
We would advise or recommend, that if the government grants those Salt Lake Mormons a territorial government, that they appoint men who are not members of this Salt Lake church, or the government will find that they are most desperately bitten by these wolves in sheep's clothing. We are in favor of them having a government but we think the government and laws should be administered by judicious and honest men, and not by traitors and conspirators against the rights and liberties of American citizens. But if the government will not heed our advice, and will appoint a Salt Lake Mormon to be Governor of that territory, let them appoint A. W. Babbit, Esq., to that office, for we believe that he would be the most faithful servant of the government that can be found among the Salt Lake Mormons.
WILLIAM SMITH.
ISAAC SHEEN.
Presidents of the church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints
Jefferson City Enquirer (17 Nov 1849)
St. Louis Organ (10 Nov 1849) Downloaded from (URL) on 29 July 2005. Click here for cached version. The "People's Organ" was begun January 31, 1842, by Russell S. Higgins and George Mead. It was a four-column, four-page daily, afterward increased to five, and finally to seven columns. In 1845 or 1846 it was sold to the "Reveille," edited by James M. Field, the father of Kate Field.' "The People's Organ and Reveille" expired in 1851. |
Thu 29 Nov 1849 | Eli B. Kelsey writes a letter to Brother Pratt and mentions NHF prominently. This account truly gives a positive character description of NHF. | Elder Kelsey wrote, "We spent one week in St Louis. Brother Felt and the Saints under his presidency treated us with great kindness and have given us means sufficient to bear our expenses to New York. I must say that I am very highly pleased with the strict organization that Brother Felt has established in all things pertaining to the St Louis branch and the wise arrangements he has made for the reception of the emigrating Saints by which means they are preserved from those wolves in sheeps clothing, apostates and every information is given relative to obtaining profitable employment healthy locations for residence &c. And I can confidently say to all the emigrating Saints who are compelled to stop in St Louis for want of means to proceed further that if they will hearken to the counsel of Brother Felt and his counsellors it will be well with them. Brother Felt will also be of great benefit to those who wish to make purchases in St Louis preparatory to crossing the plains in a saving of from ten to twenty per cent of their money. The branch in St Louis numbers about 3,000 Saints of all ages hot warm and cold with a far less proportion of the COLD than I anticipated. I made arrangements with Brother Felt relative to obtaining subscribers for the STAR who will pay their subscriptions in advance together with the transatlantic postage which will probably give a circulation in St Louis to that valuable publication of from 50 to 100 copies. I will also endeavour to make the same arrangements in Cincinnati Philadelphia and New York The Latter-Day Saints' Millennial Star |
1850 | Erastus Snow exposes Sister Felt and baby to mild form of Small Pox | This must have come originally from Snow’s own journal.
Verified by family history account
Elder Snow 6 days later held little Margaret Eliza (Maggie) in his arms to bless her. Maybe he forgot that detail of having had small pox.
Maggie's little face was scared to the point where J. Golden Kimball teased her about it growing up in the neighborhood. |
Mon 07 Jan 1850 | Erastus Snow blesses infant daughter Margaret Eliza Preston Felt | Was it Erastus Snow that baptized Nathaniel and Eliza into church in the first place? Snow Journal |
Wed 23 Jan 1850 | NHF confirms Samuel Rose Parkinson in St. Louis | Click Here
I have a copy of the biography Biography of Parkinson by Carmen Daines Fredrickson |
Fri 25 Jan 1850 | Erastus Snow declares NHF in good health | Snow Journal |
Sat 26 Jan 1850 | NHF receives Elders Taylor and Curtis E. Bolton and others at his office at #16 Third Street | John Taylor Papers Volume 1 |
Feb 1850 | Lorenzo Snow visits St. Louis on his way to Italy | "In St. Louis, we found a large branch of the Church of nearly four hundred members. We were kindly received; and it was delightful to see them assembled in their spacious and beautiful hall. The completeness of their organization reflects the highest credit upon their officers."
 |
Sun 28 Apr 1850 | NHF and Elder Woodruff make a contract with steamer to carry saints to Council Bluffs. | Elder Wilford Woodruff and a company Saints more than 212 Saints continued their journey on a steamer heading toward St. Louis. On Sunday Elder Woodruff wrote, "A hard storm of wind and rain raised a great sea on the river and in turning the boat around to take in some coal, in the midst of the trough & waves of the sea with a heavy load & slender build, she was in danger of breaking in two. She trembled, creaked & bent until many of the passengers were much frightened. She broke one of her stay bolts in two, but after taking in her coal she started out again & traveled several hours in the storm & sea in the midst of danger but before night went in behind an island & tied up for the night." On Wednesday the steamer arrived in St. Louis. Elder Woodruff went to visit the leader of the Church in the city, Nathaniel H. Felt. Elder Woodruff and Brother Felt made a contract with a steamer captain to take the company up the river to Council Bluffs. One of the company, Sister Margaret Bird died on Thursday from Cholera. The city authorities came and buried her. On Thursday evening the company had all transferred over to the steamer "Sacramento" and by nightfall, it departed from the city. On Friday Elder Woodruff wrote, "We travel slow against the current & are loaded to the guards. Some were afraid of the cholera on the boat as we had one death on board. I told the brethren not to have fears about it but to keep clean, exercise, take the air, be faithful, and watch unto prayer and all would be well." Wilford Woodruff's diary; Downloaded from www.crockettclan.org on 5/18/2007 |
Wed 01 May 1850 | Franklin D. Richards praises NHF in an editorial in the Millennial Star dated 1 May 1850 | |
Wed 01 May 1850 | Wilford Woodruff meets with NHF to hire a steamer | Near Louisville, Kentucky:
Elder Wilford Woodruff and a company Saints more than 212 Saints continued their journey on a steamer heading toward St. Louis. On Sunday Elder Woodruff wrote, "A hard storm of wind and rain raised a great sea on the river and in turning the boat around to take in some coal, in the midst of the trough & waves of the sea with a heavy load & slender build, she was in danger of breaking in two. She trembled, creaked & bent until many of the passengers were much frightened. She broke one of her stay bolts in two, but after taking in her coal she started out again & traveled several hours in the storm & sea in the midst of danger but before night went in behind an island & tied up for the night." On Wednesday the steamer arrived in St. Louis. Elder Woodruff went to visit the leader of the Church in the city, Nathaniel H. Felt. Elder Woodruff and Brother Felt made a contract with a steamer captain to take the company up the river to Council Bluffs. One of the company, Sister Margaret Bird died on Thursday from Cholera. The city authorities came and buried her. On Thursday evening the company had all transferred over to the steamer "Sacramento" and by nightfall, it departed from the city. On Friday Elder Woodruff wrote, "We travel slow against the current & are loaded to the guards. Some were afraid of the cholera on the boat as we had one death on board. I told the brethren not to have fears about it but to keep clean, exercise, take the air, be faithful, and watch unto prayer and all would be well. Wilford Woodruffs Journal 3:547-48
Downloaded from crockettclan.org on 2 Feb 2008 |
Fri 03 May 1850 | NHF preached his final sermon at Music Hall in St. Louis | Mary Lois Walker Morris wrote, "Sunday 30th arose about 5:30. rain still falling. Cleared up about 10:00 AM. … attended the funeral of Elder N. H. Felt in the 17th Ward hall. Elders O. F. Whitney and Robert Campbell spoke well. Came home about 1… We first met Elder Felt on the 3rd of May 1850, it being the second day after we landed in St Louis from England, Eroupe [sic] and he was preaching his farewell sermon to the saints of St. Louis Conference over whom he had presided for three years to the great satisfaction of the Heads of the Church."
Downloaded from (URL) on 29 July 2005. Click here for cached version.
This fact of him preaching at the music hall is circumstantially interesting. NHF was fond of music and performances. Was it NHF who managed the Saints' affairs in such a way that they were able and priveleged to use the "music hall"? Was it at the music hall where NHF and Dominico Ballo became friends and eventually led to Ballo's conversion to the church; although Jesse Little is credited for baptizing Brother Ballo. Jesse Little is also the key player for Thomas L. Kane, but somewhere NHF was also a player with Kane. The diaries of Mary Lois Walker Morris, page 299
"A Sketch of My Life" by Mary Lois Walker |
Sat 25 May 1850 | In the spring of 1850 the Felt family, consisting of father, mother, two sons and an infant daughter, started for Salt Lake City, escorted as far as Council Bluffs by Ballou's band discoursing sweet music in their honor. | After finding an excellent article about the biography of Dominico Ballo it is my assertion that the Whitney biography of NHF inserted the letter "u" incorrectly. It was Ballo's band who played sweet music for the Felts as they traveled together from St. Louis to Council Bluffs. Ballo was said to leave Council Bluffs a full year later. NHF and Ballo were natural friends. NHF gravitated to people with musical talent. Click here for cached version of Juvenile Contributor, Vol 1, go to page 32.
History of Utah by Orson F. Whitney, Volume 4, page 548
The Contributor, Volume 1, page 32, Junius F. Wells. |
Wed 29 May 1850 | Orson Hyde's announcement of NHF's arrival is as singular as the arrival of Wilford Woodruff and Orson Pratt | 
The Latter-Day Saints' Millennial Star
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Wed 29 May 1850 | The Frontier Guardian reported the visit of Joseph B. Heywood to President Zachary Taylor | 
The Latter-Day Saints' Millennial Star
Elders ORSON PRATT, WILFORD WOODRUFF and his company; and Elder N. H. FELT and company arrived here a few days since, all well; and many of them are bound for the Salt Lake Country, and many will settle in Pottawatamie County. The California Emigration has been greater through this place than through any other place on this frontier, according to the best information that we can obtain. At any rate, we shall be able in our next, to give a pretty accurate statement of the number of teams and men that have crossed at this point. We now believe the number of teams that have passed here for the mines will exceed five thousand. Our own emigration is very large from all parts. There have twelve first class steamers arrived here from St. Louis this Spring, laden to the guards. We shall be glad when the rush is over, and our streets once more comparatively clear, and our citizens themselves again. Throng and excitement have given us a peculiar longing for a little tranquility and seclusion.
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Fri 31 May 1850 | NHF replaced by his counselor Alexander Robbins | I don’t have a copy of The Saints and St Louis. The Saints and St. Louis, 1831-1857: An Oasis of Tolerance and Security |
Mon 10 Jun 1850 | Ephraim P. Ellison is born in St. Louis | Since I, the webmaster, grew up in Layton, Utah, I know well the greatness of E. P. Ellison. His sons James and Morris Ellison were sort of playmates of mine. James hired me to draw a picture of his house. Click here to read the Hartley article. St. Louis and the Nauvoo Exodus by William G. Hartley |
Tue 25 Jun 1850 | NHF and family started for GSL City with Wooley Company across plains | The Felt Family was in the 2nd Division; NHF was often called upon to preach on Sundays; only 2 recorded deaths along the way. Journal History 4 July 1850 |
Tue 16 Jul 1850 | Edward Hunter writes to B.Y. informing him of death of Washington Marshall, teamster for NHF | Journal History |
Sun 15 Sep 1850 | NHF with Captain Woolley camped near Wilford Woodruff’s camp | “Brothers Woolley and N H Felt attended our meeting in the evening & we had a lengthy meeting. They preached some strong doctrine for some of the congregation. We had a good meeting and the spirit of the Lord was with us.” Nathaniel was the chaplain of the company. Woolley was a Captain of Fifty. Wilford Woodruff Journal Vol 3:573 |
Mon 23 Sep 1850 | Presiding Bishop Newel K. Whitney died | This event set up the need for Bishop Hunter to be called. LDS Biographical Encyclopedia, Bishop Hunter |
Thu 10 Oct 1850 | Bishop Edward Hunter returns to Salt Lake | |
Sun 13 Oct 1850 | NHF arrives with family and others of the Edward Hunter company | Edward Hunter, Captain; Joseph L. Heywood, Counselor; Robert Campbell, Counselor; Benjamin L. Clapp, Chaplain; Nathaniel H. Felt, Chaplain; etc. Journal History |
