Joseph was born in 1837 in Nova Scotia, the son of Benjamin B. Woodworth, a Justice of the Peace and important business figure in Kings County.
[1] He was educated in Kings County, and began a career as a shipbuilder, constructing the largest vessels in the county at that time.
[1] Woodworth eventually moved west, becoming a pioneer of Manitoba after settling in Brandon.
[2] There he began a career as a merchant and real-estate broker.
[3] In 1883, he was elected to the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba, representing Brandon in the 5th Legislature.