The 1880 U.S. Census shows Joseph living in Stearns County, Minnesota, in Lake Henry Township in Enumeration District 107.Joseph was 25 years of age married to Katharina or Katherine (first wife) who was 21 years old. Katherine was born in 1859 in Prussia, Germany. The Census shows that both of her parents were born in Prussia as well. The last name of her parents is unknown. The date of her immigration to the U.S. is not known. The Census was taken on June 7 1880, shortly before the birth of their first child Frank, born July 16, 1880. Joseph's occupation is listed as Farmer, and Katherine's is of "Keeping House". Living with Joseph and Katherine as boarders, at the time of the 1880 Census were Joseph's brother Frank, a carpenter and Hubard Hemuch, also a carpenter.
Katherine and Joseph had two boys, Frank (1880) and William (1884). Katherine died in 1885 and is buried at St. Margaret's Cemetery in Lake Henry Township. It is not known what happened to William.
The 1900 U.S. Census shows Joseph at age 45 living with his wife of 13 years,Katie (second wife), age 35. They resided in Stearns County, Minnesota, Lake Henry Township, in Enumeration District 156. Joseph's occupation was that of a Farmer living on a mortgaged farm. Joseph stated on the Census that he could read and write and speak English. His wife Katie stated she could speak English. Katie was born in 1865 in Minnesota but her parents were from Germany.
Joseph and his second wife Katie left Minnesota and immigrated to Canada after Joseph's son and Katie's step-son, Frank settled into a homestead in Fulda, Saskatchewan. They moved everything including farm animals to their new home. They, like the rest of the family that had settled in Fulda, Middle Lake area managed to get by on a meager existence.
Tragedy struck on Nov.11, 1917. Their house was destroyed by fire. Joseph's wife Katie, daughter Lena and Grandchildren Mary and Casmer Fuchs (Clara and Balthasar's children) all died as a result of the fire. Arson was suspected as the cause of the fire, but it was never proven.
Joseph, Katie, Lena as well as Mary and Casmer Fuchs are buried in the Fulda Church Cemetery.