Joseph's first 9 months in Salt Lake City were packed with various events surrounding his work, church assignments, political activism, and social engagements. His last dated journal entry was Christmas day 1889. A lengthy, undated entry attempting to catch up his activities of the year to date was written sometime in early April 1890. He wrote:
The election in February gave the control of the city into the [hands] of the Liberals. It was gained by fraud; their object being to get it at all hazards. We had some fine parades of both parties, but ours were decidedly the better. It was a magnifisant sight to see the men all in uniforms marching behind their respective banners, in martial precision.
During one of the parades I was sick, but went out any how. A big storm came on which made mud ancle deep. We all got thoroughly soaked; but did not suffer any inconvenience.
The Young Ladies of the 14th Ward formed what was known as the “Relief Corps”. They were dressed in Red, White and blue caps and capes, which made them appear to great advantage being placed in the ranks alternately by color. They looked so pretty that I could scarcely avoid being smitten by them.
Throughout the campaign our brass bands and drum corps were of far greater magnitude that that of the enemy.
After the election we started a brass band in the 14th Ward. To me was assigned the E (flat) Tuba. We practiced until we were doing fairly well. Prof. Anton Pedersen was our teacher. Had it not been for the diffaculty of getting the boys out to practice; and for the changing of instruments by some so often, we could have done better. I almost felt like giving it up at times.
The Young Ladies assisted us in getting up a sociable for the benefit of the band; from which we derived some $39.00. We also realized $16.00 from a dancing party. At the party I became acquainted with several ladies, two of whom I shall mention: The misses Brown. I was more especially impressed with Lilian, having known her by sight for some time. I found her very quiet and sedate, but womanly and dignified. During the greater part of this time I had a desire to become better acquainted with her. Now was my time and I profited by it. Some two weeks latter the Ward Choir and Sunday School Teachers gave a surprise party to Bro.Henry Gardner, our former Superintendant and Choir leader, he having moved away to the 22 Ward. This was on Monday March 30, 1890. I had decided not to go but finally the thought struck me she might be there, and I would go and if a favorable opportunity presented itself would take her home. I had two girls on my mind and had been asking the Lord to direct my choice for a wife in answer to my prayer these girls seemed to present themselves to my mind. I thought to myself if all goes favorable I will take her home, and will accept that as a token that she is more suitable. At the party did not have much chance to see her, or speak to her, although unknown to me then, she was trying to draw me on. After spending a very pleasant time started for home. As luck would have it, the Brown girls and their brother Ben started for home about the time I did, so of course I escorted Miss Lilian home. On the way home she accepted my invitation to the theatre on the following Saturday.
Any subsequent references Joseph made to "Ben Brown" were, of course, to Lilian's brother as her father had died in February 1888. Joseph dated his next entry "Saturday, 5 April 1890", but again it appears it was written much later (probably early-mid September 1890) and he was trying to play catch-up. He wrote:
Attended Miss Lillian Brown to the theater. The play was entitled “Youth”. We enjoyed ourselves very much. The home dramatic plays better to my notion than most of the travelling companies. On leaving Miss Brown, did not get an invitation to call, so thought that would be the last of it. But a day or two later, on Monday, 7 April 1890, as I came home from a visit to Aunt Christina (who was in town,) I was told that Ben Brown had called to see me and wished me to come over to his house as he wished to see me. At about 8 oclock P.M., went down and found that he was out. The girls entertained me to the best of their ability in his absence. It turned out, however, that his sister wished to see me more particularly. She invited me to attend a sociable at their home, also another at Brother Simpson’s. I spent the evening there until bed time. Went home well pleased with the turn affairs had taken. My thoughts were that she must be interested in me or she would not smile on me the way she did or invite me to two parties at once. Well, the parties came off and I enjoyed them very much. I learned later on that the one party was gotten up in the favor of a Miss ? from Brigham City and myself.
My visits were continued until sometime in May when I felt impressed to ask her to be my wife. This step had not been taken without much prayer to my Heavenly Father, asking Him for guidance. On asking her I told her that an answer was not desired until she had consulted with her mother and father [and] made it a matter of prayer. This was on Wednesday night, the first part of May, 1890. The next few days were full of anxiety for me, as I didn’t know what her answer would be. I asked the Lord to overrule her answer in accordance with His will and for my good.
Friday evening I could endure the suspense no longer, so went to learn my fate. Though I was trembling with anxiety, I did not desire her answer to be “yes” if it was not the will of the Lord. I was only human and felt that I loved her with all my heart, and would have to suffer some pain if her answer was no. Yet I was determined to abide by her decision.
I was not to be disappointed. Her answer was Yes. She told me she had prayed to the Lord and felt satisfied. I was made very happy and gave God the honor for it.
A few days later I asked her mother’s consent to our marriage, and then put my engagement ring on her finger. I also wrote my dear parents and asked their consent which was given with a blessing.During the summer of 1890 went to Calder’s Farm twice; once with Lilian and once alone. Also went to the Theatre a couple of times and to Garfield beatch once and to a couple of sociable’s. The summer passed very quickly and pleasantly to us. We scarcely realized it until the time for our marriage was on hand. I furnished Lillian the money to buy small things which we needed.
Hyrum Groesbeck built two new frame houses in the back of the house John Mathison rents. One of the houses sister Brown took and the other Ben and I took between us. He is to get married when we do. I gave Lilian between $25.00 and $30.00 to buy small things. Her Brother Arthur gave her $20 to buy her wedding dress.
So just to clarify, John Mathison was married to Lilian's oldest sister, Catherine. By this time John and Catherine had 3 children. Lilian's mother, Catherine, probably had 5 unmarried children still living with her. Joseph moved in with Lilian's brother, Ben, and together they all lived in a compound consisting of 3 individual stand-alone houses. Ben was also engaged to be married and was to be sealed in the Logan Temple on the same day as Joseph and Lilian. Joseph was tasked with the responsibility of furnishing a home for his soon-to-be bride. He wrote:
My furnature cost approximately as follows:
One bed room set $72.00
Three cain seated chairs 6.00One cain seated rocker 3.50One cupboard 24.00One table 9.00One Whatnot 5.00One flour bin, made by Ben 7.00Six chairs for the dining room 5.00One stove 25.50One Mirror and stand 4.00Sundry small articles 25.00Carpet for bed room, about 17.00Four window blinds 4.00Two curtain poles 2.00Carpet pape r 2.70To Lilian for bedding, etc, stated as before25.00Piece of Linolium 3.00To Mrs. Brown for sundry articles5.00Total $249.20
This is only approximately, as I find it cost me nearly three hundred dollars.On Saturday 20 September 1890 Joseph wrote:
Lilian and I went to the Court House and obtained our marriage license.
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