He was a first year cadet at the South Carolina Military Academy (now The Citadel) at the outbreak of the Civil War enlisted in the Confederate Army.

Joseph enlisted with the Charles Battery, which at the close of the war was part of Kemper's Artillery, having attained the rank of Sergeant.

[1] He graduated from Furman University (Greenville) in 1867, taught school for two years, studied law, was admitted to the bar in 1870 and commenced practice in Anderson.

He returned to Sumter in 1875 and continued the practice of law; he was also interested in the logging business and in agricultural pursuits.

He was South Carolina Attorney General from 1886 to 1890, declined the nomination for governor, and ran unsuccessfully for that office in 1890.