History of the Family Association
by Helen B. Wilcox

The Nathaniel H. Felt Family Association was organized 5 August 1933. On that date a resolution was presented to the family at what seems to have been an informal gathering of the clan in the summer each year at one of the city parks.  On this date the family reunion was held in Salt Lake City at Liberty Park.  The resolution follows:

"For a number of years, this good family has observed a "Nathaniel Henry Felt Family Memorial Day" at the City Cemetery, which custom was kept active largely through the untiring efforts of his son, the late Charles B. Felt, who did so because of the request of his father and our progenitor, Nathaniel Henry Felt before the adoption of our National Memorial or Decoration Day.  In recent years we have also met in a social gathering of the kind in Liberty Park, once each summer.

"While we are growing in numbers, we realize that only a few of the (second generation) are still with us...Recent years have rapidly diminished this number.  Will coming generations continue these family gatherings and perpetuate this custom, or will there develop the usual drifting away and apart of this noble and respected family, bearing the name of Felt which carries such religious, social and civic prominence in American and Utah history?"

"It has been suggested by a number and deemed advisable at this time, that we create a more definite and permanent family organization and trusting that such action will avoid the possibility of our family drifting apart and losing that social relationship and association that has been so pleasant and productive of happy memories; and also for the purpose of continuing our family Memorial Day observance."

The name was proposed, along with the roster of officers to be elected and a yearly fee of fifty cents "to be paid by the head of each family."  In a biographical sketch given at the time of our patriarch, by is oldest living son, David Pile Felt, he said, "N. H. Felt became the father of seventeen children...Our father was one among the first aldermen of Salt Lake City, and besides his civil activities was always abreast of the times in religious, social and high cultural circles. As the oldest now living of his children, I take great pleasure in remembering some personal knowledge of father's splendid qualities. I can see him take my young wife into his arms when I introduced her as a new daughter, and give a father's welcome. I, and many of his friends can recall his dignified walk up the hill to his home on upper main street, his head surmounted by a high hat, supplementing a walking cane, well-groomed clothes and a cordial greeting to his friends. Brigham Young was wont to call him "Nathaniel Henry"...

Great-uncle Dave states that Great-grandfather came to the valley in 1850, after serving as president of the St. Louis Conference (or branch). He also recounts that he was the only one of his father's children "to brave the privations of pioneer life...and the odium of joining the Mormons. Upon his arrival in the valley he was "the first tailor and ...thus (raised) the sartorial standard of the hardy pioneers..." He later served a mission to England.