Joseph Mitchell is the father of Susannah Mitchell, who would later marry Harold Ray Heath. Except where specifically noted, the following is based upon the personal history that Joseph Mitchell wrote about his own life. The date on the typewritten copy that I have is November 22, 1934.
Joseph Mitchell was born to Robert and Sarah Henderson Mitchell on 20 October 1860 in Dalry, Ayrshire, Scotland. His parents worked very hard to provide for the family, and had a great desire to go to Salt Lake City, Utah to gather with the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
His childhood involved hard work. In order to help the family travel to Salt Lake, he and his brother Robert went to work in the coal mines with their father. On 4 February 1872, his father passed away. According to Joseph, this may have been because he overworked himself.
In the fall of 1875, his sister Janet got Typhoid fever, and for the next six months this sickness was present in the family. It also resulted in the death of his older brother John. The sickness prevented Joseph from working for three months, after which he returned to work in the mines to help the family accomplish their goal of going to Salt Lake.
The family lived so far away from any branch of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints that for many years, they had little direct association with the church. Around 1878 and 1879, missionaries began to come regularly to visit Joseph and his family. His mother and three of his sisters attended a branch located 8 miles from their home. Joseph was hesitant to be baptized because of what he thought other people's reactions would be. After much saving, Joseph’s mother and two sisters, Janet and Elizabeth, left for Utah in October 1881, when Joseph was about 21 years old. He remained in Scotland to work and save money to go himself. During this time, he lived with his brother Robert and later lived with some friends. While waiting to join his mother and sisters, he pondered on his mother’s dedication to the Church. He describes this in the following words:
"After Mother and the girls left I had plenty of time to think, and when I realized how much Mother was willing to sacrifice for her religion I felt that I should be willing to find out for myself something about it. Mother and the Elders often had quoted to me the promise in the scriptures 'that if any one would do the will of the Father they would know if the doctrines taught by the Church were of God.' So I decided to put this matter to the test."
Joseph decided to be baptized, and Elder Joseph W. McMurrin baptized him in 1882 in Kilwinning, Ayrshire, Scotland.
In May 1882, he was ready to leave for the United States. According to his personal history, he left his home on 15 May, but there is a Jos. Mitchell, age 21 from Glasgow listed on a record of the ship Nevada, which sailed on 14 May 1882. This may or may not be the same person. (The preceding information is from the following: Record of Steamship Nevada, sailed May 14th 1882, Agent Albert Carrington. Copy of this record obtained from another descendant of Joseph Mitchell)
He arrived in New York on 28 May and took a train to Utah. He arrived in Logan on the morning of the 4th of June, and joined his mother and sisters later that day.
Thus begins the story of Joseph Mitchell and his family. Their dedication and sacrifice is a wonderful example to all who have and will come after them. More about Joseph Mitchell to come . . .
