Joseph Hyrum NeVille

Joseph Hyrum NeVille was born in the small village of Bradley in Hampshire, England. Four months before his birth, his parents were baptized as members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, being converted to the restored Gospel of Jesus Christ, and he was named after the martyred brothers, Joseph and Hyrum Smith. The industrious family, continued to work and serve in the beautiful undulating hills of Hampshire.

In 1867 when at the age of 15, Joseph, his brother James and his parents emigrated to the United States. Other family members followed and immigrated at a later time.

Joseph Hyrum, with his brother James and father, worked in the masonry trade in New York. The following year, the family relocated West, traveling by train to Laramie, Wyoming. The family then prepared for the trek to the Salt Lake Valley. His father, William, built a sturdy handcart with which to transport their belongings. (This handcart was displayed at the Smithsonian Museum for several years and later donated to the Museum of Church History and Art in Salt Lake City, Utah, where it is on display today). He and his father and brother James worked with others to lay railroad track to connect Echo Canyon to Ogden, while the family lived in a cave. This contributed to the completion of the Union Pacific Railroad which culminated at Promontory Point when the golden spike was driven in 1869. Joseph Hyrum played coronet and his father William played the bassoon in the band at this celebration.

Joseph Hyrum met and married Ann Lydia West, whose family also emigrated from England. He wrote a love poem for her just before their marriage which their descendants cherish. Within the poem he included his name as Joseph NeVille and signed it Joseph H NeVille.

He had a construction business and was involved in several building projects in Salt Lake and Ogden. One of these was the remodeling of the Salt Lake Theater. He was stumped when it came to the ornamental plastering work, but he was given the answer in a dream. He made glue by boiling cowhides, combining it with clay and forming the decorative effects that would rival theaters in the East. As a pioneer and settler, he had many opportunities to apply his skills and talents to many occupations and in serving his fellow men.

Joseph loved the idea and limitless potential of the American West and had dreamed of being a cowboy even as a boy in England. Being a real cowboy may have eluded him, but because of his limitless attitude he was able to serve where need be. When he moved his family to Woodruff, Utah, the town needed a blacksmith, so he opened a blacksmith shop and also a brickyard. His wife, Annie, cooked for his employees. He supervised and worked on the building of the Woodruff LDS Church building and two school buildings.

He was called on a mission to help colonize the Big Horn Country in Wyoming. The Big Horn River was called by the native tribe, "stinking water." It was a wilderness with hardly any green, even when they arrived in the springtime. But they worked on the canal and helped to build up the town. He served as the town of Byron's first post master, the post office being in the front room of their home. A large gas well was discovered on their farm. They were offered a generous price for the land, though if they would have waited longer to sell, they could have received double the price. But they moved into town and built a beautiful home with indoor plumbing and also built a grist mill. Joseph also served as mayor, surveyor, and held other political offices, including the Wyoming state legislature. He was known to be kind, generous, and a strictly honest businessman. He remained faithful to the Lord throughout his life. He loved his wife, his children, and his friends, whom he served well.

Joseph Hyrum Neville became ill during his third term in the state legislature and passed away. Because of all the medical bills from hospitals and specialists, his widow had to sell the house. But she was able to live close to some of their children.

note: Joseph's father, William Neville, was also known as William Neville Stiff. Thus Joseph Hyrum Neville is also known as Joseph Hyrum Stiff Neville. He signed his letters as Joseph H. Ne'Ville to ensure the preferred pronunciation of his name.

Transcribed from family records by Heidi Phillips.