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A "home mission" call was issued William H. Folsom November 2, 1863, signed by President Brigham Young, Heber C. Kimball and Daniel H. Wells. All of these assignments and architectural responsibilities kept Folsom away from home a great deal and caused him to be concerned about the wellbeing of his children. The two little girls, Frances and Louise, were content to be with their sister Amelia, who had married President Brigham Young on January 24, 1863, just seven months prior to the death of her mother. This arrangement did not please their father, because he wanted to have his family together. Hyrum was now twenty-two years old and assisted his father with his church assignments in many ways. But Burdette and Hinman, nineteen and fourteen years, presented teenage problems - they needed a mother. Folsom realized that it was unwise to leave his family in such a condition.
Elizabeth was readily accepted by the Folsom children, who called her "Aunt Lizzie". With this arrangement of affairs in his home, the architect could now better concentrate on his church assignments.
CITY HALL
Following the incorporation of Great Salt Lake City on January 9, 1851, with Jedediah M. Grant as Mayor, the city fathers met in the Councilor State House. The minutes of this meeting record that they were anxious to purchase or erect a city hall. On April 12, 1852, John Van Cott, Soloman Angell and N. V. Jones were appointed to select a site and confer with an architect to accomplish this project. Later in the year they gave a report, but ~heir findings were discarded when Territorial Governor Brigham Young suggested that the southeast corner lot on State Street and First South be purchased for this purpose. The City Council voted to accept his proposal and the Committee paid Joseph L. Schofield $2,000 for the plot, which included his small home. The Council held its meeting in this home for some time after the purchase. On March 21, 1856, two rods of adjoining land on the east was purchased for the City by J. C. Little from W. Batchelder, and Mr. Little was instructed to plant trees on it. By October 16, 1857, a new building had been erected, into which the Council moved its records and equipment. The Schofield home was turned over to the Police Department for a station and a jail. The new building was constructed of rock and was dedicated April 5, 1858, just before Johnston's Army passed through the city on its way to Camp Floyd.
The population of Salt Lake City increased rapidly, and by 1863 it was decided by the Council that this building was no longer adequate for its needs. R. V. Burton, ,William H. Felt, Enoch Reese and Robert Campbell were delegated to draw up specifications and call for plans and bids for a larger building. At the council meeting held January 22, 1864, the plans for the new hall, submitted by William H. Folsom, were adopted. By January 2, 1866,the City Council was privileged to meet in the new City Hall and the dedication date was set for January 8, 1866.