The 1920 census says that Joseph is an adopted son, and I presume he was one of the "orphan train" adoptees. In his 1917 WWI registration, he's a farm laborer in Coleharbor, North Dakota, north of Bismarck. In the 1930 and 1940 censuses, he's in International Falls, Minnesota. In his 1942 WWII draft registration, he's working at the M&O Paper Company in International Falls, Minnesota and staying at the Frederick Hotel.