Because of the desire and encouragement of his mother, they began to plan to build a house. Joseph put a great deal of work into the house, and also hired others to help. It was in this house that he would eventually start his own family. In his writing about the experience of building this three-bedroom adobe house on Seventh South Street in Salt Lake, he said, "Altho I worked ten hours per day and some overtime I didn’t find it necessary to at any time work on the house on Sunday."
In 1892, Joseph lost his job with D&RGW Railroad because of a financial panic, but was able to find temporary work with Rapid Transit Streetcar Barns and Shops. Soon thereafter, one of the most significant events in his life occurred. Because of its significance, his own words are best to describe it.
"In the spring of 1893 I got acquainted with the handsome young lady who later became my partner for all time. From then on we were good friends, and on October 24, 1894 we were married in the Salt Lake Temple. For a number of years my close friends were concerned about my failure to find a wife as there was kind of an unwritten law in Scotland that it was the duty of the youngest son in the family to remain single and take care of his widowed mother. Some had the idea I intended to observe this rule, but I never had any intention of following this foolish notion. I was only waiting for one of the best wives in this or any other country to come along to be the mother of a splendid family of children, and after forty years I can truly say that I am happy that I waited for her and that my fondest hopes have been realized in my good wife and splendid family, their love for me and to see my children grow up in honor and integrity, with faith in the Gospel is reward enough for me. But when added to this the promise that we through our faithfulness may be bound together through all eternity is a hope and a joy that it is hard for us to fully understand at present."
In 1891, they added to the adobe house, and Joseph's mother lived in the west two rooms while he and Susan lived in the east three rooms. After their first son, Bob, was born, Joseph acquired a serious throat infection. He promised the Lord that if he could be healed he would do anything in the church that he was asked to do. After a blessing from the elders, he recovered very quickly, and in 1897, his covenant with the Lord was tested. While his wife was pregnant with their second child, Susannah, he was called on a mission to Great Britain. (1) He was set apart 6 August 1897, (2) and was gone from 7 August 1897 until 28 July 1899. He was able to get his job back quickly when he returned. In the following years, three more daughters were born in Salt Lake. He served as a Sunday School teacher, in the Mutual Improvement Association, and was a president of the 23rd quorum of the seventy. In 1906, the family moved to Thistle, Utah so that Joseph could get higher wages and also to help with his mother’s health. While there, his last daughter was born, and his mother died. (3) Shortly after her death in 1909, they returned to the Salt Lake area, and lived in Sugarhouse. (4)
(1) Joseph Mitchell Personal History, written by himself, 22 November 1934
(2) Joseph Mitchell, Missionary Certificate, 6 August 1897, obtained from a relative
(3) Joseph Mitchell Personal History, written by himself, 22 November 1934
(4) Personal History of Sarah Henderson Mitchell Olsen, written by Sarah Olsen in June 1977, May 1978, and January 1981. Page 2, 11. Borrowed from relatives.
