Joseph Caraway is a native of Greenbrier county, Virginia, and was born October 18, 1811. He was reared in the county of his birth and educated in the common schools of Virginia. In 1837 he left Virginia and traveled on horse-back to Vermillion county, Illinois, and after taking a rest there of two years, rode on to this county and entered the land where he now lives in 1839. He pitched his tent for once and all, and has never moved, except out of his first log cabin into his present dwelling, since 1839, or before he was married, and is one of the successful farmers of this county.
He was married, October 1, 1840, to Miss Mary Kipers, who was born December 12, 1822. They had eight children; namely, Sarah J., born September 23, 1841; Elizabeth C., born September 15, 1845; Rebecca A., born December 13, 1847; Mary J., born September 23, 1850; Margaret S., born January 14, 1854; William T., born May 25, 1857; John A., born June 6, 1860; and George N., born May 11, 1863. Mrs. Mary Caraway died March 17, 1864. On August 22d, 1866, Mr. Caraway was united in marriage to Miss Rebecca McNeel. The date of her birth was May 8, 1836, in Logan county, Ohio. By this union they have two children: Eliza P., born September 12, 1869; and Joseph C., born October 30, 1871.