Joseph was the son of Hartwell Temple and Margaret Johnson. His maternal grandfather was Joseph Johnson the first Magistrate of Madison Co., TN.  Hartwell Temple was a plantation owner in Madison Co., TN and they apparently had some wealth before the war. Joseph joined the Tennessee 6th infantry in 1862 at the age of 20. As was the case with many young men of the area, his first battle was a rude awakening at the battle of Shiloh. He was shot in the head and taken prisoner. They took him to Gratiot Street Military prison in St. Louis where conditions were harsh.

After the War he married Hattie Wells of Fayette Co. TN who later died after they had six daughters. Joseph moved to Obion Co. TN sometime after 1880 and it is unknown whether Hattie was with him or had already died. The Temple family, Joseph, Hattie and Margaret, are not listed in either of the cemetery books now in print.  Joseph worked as a butcher for a while before he became involved with the telephone company.  Neither is it known what originaly caused them to move to Union City. It does appear that hard times had set in in Madison County after the war as they had lost most if not all of their livestock and probably a lot of other valuables.

Letter written by Joseph Hartwell while in prison in St. Louis