1907-07-Improvement Era—Events and Comments

Events and Comments

Improvement Era, v10 n9, July 1907, pp. 764-765.

Joseph Felt. — A pioneer Mutual Improvement worker, was Joseph H. Felt. For about eighteen years he was president of the Y. M. M. I. A. , of the Salt Lake stake, when it covered the whole of Salt Lake County. He worked diligently for the benefit and advantage of the young men under his charge. He died June 15, 1907. He was born in Salem, Mass., May 9, 1840, and went with his parents to Nauvoo about 1844, thence to St. Louis in 1845, arriving in Salt Lake Valley in 1850. He took part in many of the organizations for the public good in early days, having been a member of the military organization known as Minute Men, formed for pretection against Indians. In 1862 he was one of President Lincoln's volunteers for the protection of the mail and telegraph line out West, and after performing his full duty was mustered out of service in March, 1863. In the spring of that year he was called on a mission to England, laboring in that country during most of 1863-4, and in Scandinavia during 1865-6, reaching home late in the year 1866. In 1867 he was called to open up the settlement on the Muddy, passing through all the hardships incident to pioneering that forbidding section. He returned to Salt Lake in 1869, and in 1883 filled a mission to the Indian Territory, returning the following year, and was again sent on a mission to the Eastern States in 1885, from which he returned in 1887. He was an indefatigable worker both in business affairs and in the Church. Except during his absence on missionary work, he was connected with the Z. C. M. 1. from 1869 to the date of his death. With the young people he has been a power for good, and has taken special interest not only in the Improvement Associations, but in the Lesser Priesthood, and his memory will long be cherished by those who have come under his influence.