Joseph Smith Kimball was the second child of Apostle Heber Chase Kimball, of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and Prescendia Lathrop Huntington Kimball. He was born shortly after the death of his older sister, Prescendia Celestia Kimball, by drowning in Salt Lake City's City Creek, in 1850. His mother loved and protected him, and he dearly loved her, and took care of her in her old age. He attended public schools in Salt Lake City, and attended The University of Deseret, (later named the University of Utah,) for a short time. In 1870 Brigham Young sent him to help colonize Rich County near Bear Lake, where he became know as the "Utah Cattle King". He married Lathilla Merrill Pratt, the daughter of Apostle Orson Pratt, that same year. They had 13 children.
Joseph was a well known cattle rancher. He served in many church callings, and was bishop in his ward for a time. He was a member of the County Board of Selectmen, the Probate Judge,and a member of the Territorial House of Representatives in 1885. He moved to Cache County 1n 1890 and represented that county in the Second Utah State Legislature.
He was a member of the Sons of the American Revolution, and at his passing they proclaimed much of which is already written here, along with the following:
"The membership of Compatriot Kimball in the Utah Society is derived from William Huntington, who was a private and fifer in Captain Ichabod Hinckley's Company of the 2nd Connecticut Regiment, in which he served from April 1, 1777 to March 1, 1780". His decendents are also sons and daughters of the same.
In the latter part of his life he returned to Salt Lake City, and durig his last years was the official guide at the Church Administration Building.
His obituray stated that he lived a life of dignity and honor, and that he was of sympathetic, genial and kindly nature and extended the warm hand of brotherhood to all whom he came in contact with and had learned the secret of keeping young. As age came upon him, he remained serene in spirit and had the heart of a boy.
He was survived by his widow, Lathilla, and 10 children, Joseph Raymon Kimball,, Ernest Kimball, Oliver H. Kimball, Willadr J. Kimball, all og San Diego, California; Pratt Kimball, Los Angeles; Florence Kimball Robinson, Clark Kimball, Ethel Kimball Sargent, Pearl Kimball Davis and Jean Kimball Hooper all of Salt Lake. There were 77 grandchildren and 85 great-grandchildren also surviving with the following brothers and sisters; J. Golden Kimball,, Daniel H. Kimball, Albert H. Kimball and Hyrum Kimball, all of Salt Lake; Samuel Kimball of Vernal, Utah; Rosalia Kimball Edwards, Alice Kimball Smith, Abbie Kimball Burrows, all of Salt Lake and Mrs. May Moffat of Logan, Utah. He loved his family, his religion, his country, and his God.