Joseph’s father came to the US first and earned money as a painter. He finally sent for his family in Italy and they worked on the Gregory Ranch in Bonny Doon and the HIhn Ranch in Soquel cutting wood. The family had a house in town on Harmon Way and also a ranch were they grew grapes and had cows. Joseph joined a relative in SF who painted houses and he was taught how to be a painter. He stayed in San Francisco for 26 years and then returned to live in Boulder Creek.