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Shortly thereafter, an opportunity presented itself whereby the Architect could purchase a home. A receipt, still extant, verifies the fact that on April 15, 1863, he paid $3,000 for lots 7 and 8 in block 78, plat A, in Salt Lake City. This property, comprising two and one-half acres, was located at the corner of South Temple and First West Streets. The deed bears the signature of the previous owner, Amasa Mason Lyman, with Albert Carrington and William Clayton as witnesses to the transaction; John Wooley, recorder, and E. C. Woolley as deputy. The home on the plot was small, but Folsom had no time to make improvements. There was an apple orchard and garden plot on the premises. The family was happy that they now had a place to call home. They were registered in the Fourteenth Ward.
It was just after the dedication of the Salt Lake Theatre that William
H. and Eliza Folsom had their pictures taken. In this picture, Eliza is wearing the pearl earrings which complemented the pearl cross given her by her husband on his return from California (p.28). That was the last picture she was to have taken. Her health was failing fast and she was taken from the family August 16, 1863. Eliza had been a source of inspiration to her husband. She had faith in his ability and she offered love and devotion, which in turn gave him courage and strength. Their home life had been one of seeking spiritual as well as temporal blessings and serving the Lord.
It had been Folsom's intention to prepare a vault for himself and his wife in the Salt Lake City Cemetery, but at the time of her death this had not been done. She was buried, temporarily, in the apple orchard in their home lot at First West. June 1, 1889 Folsom purchased lots 3 and 14, plat D, block 4, deed #2743, in the cemetery, prepared the vault, and moved the remains of Eliza and Baby Richard into it.
Folsom's sorrow lay deep within him. To mingle with others seemed impossible; yet he accepted President Young's invitation to join a party of General Authorities for a trip to Logan to take care of some business. The party left Salt Lake City on September 1, 1863, and stopped at Layton, Ogden, Brigham City and Box Elder Canyon (Wellsville), holding meetings and greeting Saints. At Logan they held a conference where there were speeches, special music and lunches. One member of the group decided that the bank played all night, since it was playing when he went to bed and playing when he awoke.
On the way back they held a meeting in the courthouse at Brigham City and the Tabernacle in Ogden. In Ogden the audience was addressed by Daniel H. Wells, John T. Caine, William H. Folsom and George A. Smith. This meeting was four hours long. The company returned to Salt Lake City on September 24, 1963 (John V. Long report).
The first Art School in Salt Lake City formed as an association in 1863, was named Deseret Academy of Art. The teaching faculty was trained in a variety of lines. Officers elected were: George Martin Ottinger, President, Landscapist and figure painting; Vice President, William Morris, decorator; Secretary E.L.T. Harrison, architect; Treasurer, C. R. Savage, photographer. Additional teachers of the institution were William H. Folsom, architect; William Silver mechanical drawing; and Daniel Weggeland, painter of landscape and figure painting. The school functioned for a short time only. (Carter, Heart Throbs of the West, 2:463).