Joseph was born at
New Jersey on 22 August 1801. He was the son of
William Rakestraw and
Mary Morris. He married
Priscilla Bates at
Clark Co., Ohio, on 21 October 1823. Joseph was listed as the head of a family on the 1830 Census at
Green Twp., Clark Co., Ohio. He married
Isabella Gowdy at
Clark Co., Ohio, on 2 January 1840. Joseph was listed as the head of a family on the 1840 Census at
Green Twp., Clark Co., Ohio. He married
Isabel Dougherty on 19 December 1849 at
Greene Co., Ohio. Joseph was listed as the head of a family on the 1850 Census at
Green Twp., Clark Co., Ohio. He married
Deborah O. (?) at
Greene Co., Ohio, on 26 May 1856. Joseph was listed as the head of a family on the 1860 Census at
Green Twp., Clark Co., Ohio. Joseph was listed as the head of a family on the 1870 Census at
Green Twp., Clark Co., Ohio. He made a will at
Clark Co., Ohio, on 28 June 1872. Joseph died on 25 April 1875 at
Green Twp., Clark Co., Ohio, at age 73. He was buried in April 1875 at
Bloxom Cemetery, Green Twp., Clark Co., Ohio; Bloxom cemetery is located on the east side of Chillicothe Pike, between Battin-Howell Road and State Route 42.