Joseph Pickett was born in Mar. 1848 at New Hope, Bucks County, Pennsylvania. He was the son of
Edward Dunlap Pickett and
Catherine Conover. Joseph Pickett married
Emma (Unknown). Joseph Pickett was shown in the census on 3. Jun. 1880 as a carpenter.
Joseph Pickett and
Emma (Unknown) appeared on the census of 3. Jun. 1880 at with his father, New Hope, Bucks County, Pennsylvania. Joseph Pickett married
Emily Mary Terry on 4. Feb. 1890 at Vincentown, Burlington County, New Jersey. Joseph Pickett died on 12. Dec. 1918 at age 70. He was buried at Hulmeville Cemetery, Hulmeville, Bucks County, Pennsylvania.

During Joseph's early life he was a canal "boatbuilder", learning the trade of carpentry from his father. He resided on Main Street according to the Census of 1880, with his father Edward and his 1st wife Ema. He probably lived with his father until his father's death in 1888. He later became a "Storekeeper" or merchant in a store on Bridge Street that was along the canal, in a building still standing (1998). He moved to a house, also on the canal on Mechanic Street which is also still standing, & serves as a store (1994). Joseph is said to haunt that house to this day.
While running his store on Bridge Street, Joe (8) started, without ever having a lesson, to paint landscapes. It is believed that he started painting in his late 50's or early 60's. Joe's paintings are basically in the style used by Grandma Moses, that is, most things painted were simplistic & out of scale, however they were rich with colors.
Joseph's paintings now hang in the New York Museum of Modern Art in New York City, & the Newark Museum in Newark, NJ. His most famous painting is that of "Manchester Valley" which is a painting of the old New Hope High School. During 1990, it was brought to my attention that a "study" of this painting was being sold by an art gallery in New York City. I believe that Joseph (8), an untrained artist, would have never made a study & therefore feel this to be a fake. The selling price is over $100,000.00. The titles of the other paintings that the author is sure are his works include "Coryell's Ferry" & "Washington under the Council Tree".
Other paintings that have surfaced that are claimed to be his work include "Red House on the Hill" & "Sunset on the Lehigh Canal, New Hope". These two have not, as yet, been verified to the satisfaction of the author as Joe Pickett originals.
In the 1890's, Joe (8) ran a "shooting gallery" at the Neshaminy Falls Grove, then a well known amusement park, on the Neshaminy, just a few miles above Hulmeville. It is believed that this is where he met his wife, Emily. He was also known to often run concession stands at multiple fairs & parks around the county until his marriage. After his marriage, he led a more stay-at-home life.
Joseph inherited some money of an unknown amount from his father "Edward's Estate".