Joseph was the oldest of 4 children born to Solomon and Eunice Martin James.

He married Anna Marie Jinks February 15 1859 Pleasant Grove Township, Olmstead County, Minnesota.
They had 14 children.

They moved you like to add this to his bio:

SOURCE: Curtiss-Wedge, F.; Jones, Geo. O. (ed.) / "History of Dunn County, Wisconsin" (1925) pages 576-578:

In the biographical sketch about his daughter, Lucy F. James who married Ole M. Vennes:
Lucy F. James was born in the town of Hay River, Dunn County, Wis., Nov. 29, 1869, daughter of Joseph and Anna (Jenks) James. Her parents were married in Michigan. Early in the year 1864 they came to Menomonie, Wis., resided there subsequently for one year, and then took the homestead of 160 acres in the town of Hay River on which their daughter, Lucy F., was born, and where they, themselves, spent the rest of their lives, Mr. James dying Dec. 18, 1906, and Mrs. James in 1914.

It remains yet to speak of the children in the James family, that of Mrs. Vennes' parents. There were at least 13 in number, as follows:
1. William, who is deceased;
2. Elmer, now of Hayward, Sawyer County, Wis.;
3. Wesley, of Boyceville, Dunn County;
4. Eunice, who is Mrs. Elmer Morley of Shell Lake, Wis.;
5. Elizabeth, who married Edward Reed of Colorado, but is now deceased;
6. Lucy F., widow of Ole M. Vennes;
7. Louis, of Duluth, Minn.;
8. George, deceased;
9. Effie, now Mrs. Winnifred [sic] Sabin of Hayward, Wis.;
10. Eva (twin sister of Effie), who is Mrs. Frank Fallis of Burnette County, Wis.;
11. Andy, of Duluth;
12. Anna (twin sister of Andy), who was the first wife of Frank Fallis, but is now deceased; and
13. Martin, who died in infancy.
It may be said of this family also that they proved themselves worthy men and women, esteemed and respected in their respective communities.
to Dunn County, Wisconsin before 1870.