Histories

When he was 3 his parents died in the cholera epidemic that swept through St. Louis. His uncle took the children to Council Bluffs and the next summer they joined the trek to Utah as members of the Edward Hunter Company. He and his surviving sisters were raised by his aunt and uncle. Joseph herded cows at age 8. The family moved to Kaysville when he was 10. His uncle probably taught him to became a bricklayer and mason. For a time he was superintendent of construction for Walker & McCormick. He worked on the Grand Theater and the Tabernacle. He also operated a sand lot, dredging the Jordan river and hauling the sand to his lot. He built brick linings for the smoke stacks located at the different smelters around the Valley. His uncle said that "he would never forget the good and efficient labor of my sister's son, Joseph ... he labored with a zeal to be commended. He took the lead in the work at all times and manifested a kindly attitude toward all engaged in the work. While I was at Delle Ranch he knew that the wheat harvest time was near and that I was short handed and needed help. He came miles on foot to help me and when the work was completed he returned to his home in Salt Lake City on foot through a drenching rain, taking nothing for his labors". Joseph was the father of 11 daughters; his only son was born in 1895 just as Joseph was returning from Greenville where he had spent six weeks panning for gold. Joseph was a good singer and musician whose "speciality was playing his seven string banjo in a dance orchestra" playing at various wards for the church dances. His granddaughter says that when Sarah got mad, Joseph took down his banjo, laid down on the sofa and played till she quieted down. His daughter Doretta said that her mother was the disciplarian in the family, her father being the "mild, kind hearted type". If his children asked to go somewhere, he always said "ask your mother". Doretta's son, Sid Kramer (who was born at his grandparents' home) said that Joseph used to make little wooden wagons for his grandsons. Joseph became sick just after Christmas and, after an illness which lasted ten days, died at home of bronchial pneumonia. He was a Republican. He lived for over 50 years at his home at 417 West Sixth South See Treasure of Pioneer History by Kate Carter 9:288 for boyhood episode. Also see Prioneers and Prominent Men of Utah. Salt Lake City Deeds: 1890 - Book 35:508 - in October he and James Palmer buy Lot 10, Block 9 in Muscaline Place Subdivision for $150 1890 - Book 35:508 - in December he buys Lot 11, Block 9 in Muscaline Place for $300 1893 - Book 4F:230 - James F. Palmer sells Joseph all his right in Lot 10, Block 9 in Muscaline Place for $125 1896 - Book 4Y:546 - he and Sarah quit claim for $1 their interest in section 20; township 2 together with their interest in Bingham Creek 1898 - Book 5O:465 - he and Sarah sell their 1/12 interest in section 20, township 2, range 1 for $50 1906 - Book 7A:188 - he and Sarah quit claim for $1 their interest in section 20, township 2 together with their water rights in Bingham Creek to the heirs of John Barlow Fielding 1924 - Book 121:27 - their right in Lots 10 & 11, Block 9, Muscaline Place is sold for delinquent taxes 1919 - Book 10J:374 - he and Sarah sell Lots 10 & 11, Block 9 in Muscaline Place for $10 Census Records of Salt Lake City: 1880 - Joseph (31) Sarah (26) Sarah (9) Mary (7) Lillly (5) + Hattie (2) -- he is a brickmason 1900 - Joseph (52) Sarah (58) Lilly (24) Ray (19) Cora (17) Mable (14) Adell (12) Mattie (10) Doretta (7) + Joseph (5) -- he is a bricklayer; they own their home at 417 West Sixth South 1910 - Joseph (63) Sarah (55) Adell (22) Mattie (19) Doretta (17) + Joseph (14) -- he is a bricklayer who was out of work for 20 weeks during the year; Adell was working as a saleslady in a dry goods store 1920 - Joseph ((73) Sarah (65) - she had been naturalized in 1880; he is a bricklayer Salt Lake City Telephone Directory: 1874 - he is a laborer living at the northwest corner of 3d West and 4th South -- in the Sixth Ward 1879 - he is a bricklayer living at 6th South between 3d and 4th West 1884 - he is a bricklayer; from here on his address is 417 West Sixth South 1888 - he is a mason 1889 - he is a mason 1890 - he is a mason working for Baker & Savoll 1896 - he is a bricklayer 1897 - he is a carpenter 1898 - he is a bricklayer 1899 - he is a bricklayer 1900 - he is a bricklayer; Lillie is a clerk at Paris Millinery; Ray is a clerk at Kolitz Kandy Kitchen 1903 - he is a bricklayer; Lillie still at Paris Millinery; Ray a clerk at AR Derge; Mabel a student at West Side High 1905 - he is a contractor; Rae & Mabel are clerks; Della is a clerk at Keith-O'Brien 1906 - he's a bricklayer at Garfield Smelter; Rae a clerk at LA Cohn; Cora a clerk; Della at Keith-O; Mabel a steno 1908 - he's a bricklayer; Della still at Keith-O'Brien; Mattie a clerk; and Dora is a student -- all still living at home 1909 - he is a mason; Della & Mattie clerks at Keith-O'Brien; Doretta is a clerk; Sarah is a student 1910 - he is a bricklayer; Mattie a clerk at Keith-O'Brien 1912 - he is a bricklayer; Mattie still at Keith-O'Brien; Doretta a clerk and Joseph junior a clerk 1914 - he is a bricklayer; Joseph junior a printer at Jennings Engineering Company 1915 - he is a mason; Joseph junior a printer at Jennings Engineering 1917 - he is a bricklayer; Joseph junior a pressman at Jennings Engineering 1918 - he is a bricklayer; Joseph junior a pressman, still living at home 1920 - he is a bricklayer; Joseph junior a mechanic at Botterill Auto Company who was living at 825 S. Main 1921 - he is a bricklayer; Joseph junior a mechanic at Richardson-Bower living at 343 Denver 1925 - he is a bricklayer; Joseph junior a salesman at Richardson-Bower living at 731 Linden 1926 - he has possibly retired; Joseph junior a mechanic at Richardson-Bower living at 1 Warburton 1928 - no occupation listed; Joseph junior a wholesale rep for RJ Fry 1930 - no occupation listed