---The Old West---[Open-Joining-RP]

[img width=510 height=382]http://fc05.deviantart.net/fs7…by_blmckinney-d3a8rwy.jpg[/img]

[img width=510 height=328]http://toyhero.sfdaydreams.com/th2.jpg[/img]

[img width=510 height=340]http://upload.wikimedia.org/wi…wn_Hall,_Edgartown_MA.jpg[/img]

[img width=510 height=324]http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-NtoZ…+west+cowboy+building.jpg[/img]

[img width=510 height=382]http://cowboylands.files.wordp…aux-town-pocactelloid.jpg[/img]

[img width=375 height=510]http://thumbs.dreamstime.com/z/cowgirl-do-pas-10246900.jpg[/img]
[img width=357 height=510]http://images.halloweencostume…-west-cowgirl-costume.jpg[/img]

Sorry, I couldn't find anything better. That will have to do for now.

Mother: Mary Smith (Deceased)
Father: John Smith (Deceased)
Sister(s): Clara Smith (Deceased)
Brother(s): Charles Smith (Deceased)

Joseph grew up on a modest farm along the outskirts of town. Technically, the farm was just outside the town's border, but nobody ever really took that into consideration unless they were dealing with legal things. When he was only 7, angry Indians who were tired of Americans taking their land attacked his family's home. They set the house on fire, as well as all of the crops. They'd also been attacking other areas of the town, leaving the current sheriff and his men with their hands full. By the time they got around to helping Joseph's family, he was the only one left. The sheriff saved him from the burning house, and, seeing that he was now an orphan, took him in. Joseph, being 7, was just old enough to really understand the meaning of his family's death. They were never coming back, and he was all alone in the world. Thankfully, the sheriff was there to take care of him, and he treated Joseph like his own son. After 3 years of simply helping him grow up properly, the sheriff decided to treat Joseph to shoot a gun. After seeing Joseph's natural talent for it, he thought about seeing if he could get Joseph become a sheriff when he got old enough. He never pushed it, and never even mentioned it, but he taught Joseph the skills that would be needed if he decided to do so. After a lot of training, Joseph's friends started calling him "The Sharpshooter." They would brag to other people, and say their friend could shoot a hat flying through the hat from a mile. Of course, it was all just show, and nothing bad ever came of it, except for a few disbelieving folk spreading some meaningless rumors around at one point. One day, when Joseph was 17, he was out hunting with some friends. After some good searching, he managed to fall a good buck in the middle of feeding time. While one of Joseph's friends helped him saw off the antlers, the second friend and Joseph kept watch. While the second friend was looking off somewhere into a trees, a bear came out of the forest to his back. It was silent, until it got close. It roared, charging towards the buck. It had obviously smelled the fallen deer and felt a bit hungry, so it came to scavenge a bit of food. By the time Joseph's second friend, turned around and got his rifle ready, the bear was too close to the first friend for a safe shot to made. Joseph, however, had already had his pistol ready. He lifted it and put the bear in his sights, quick as lightning, and the shot the bear straight through the skull. That day, he returned home with a buck and an impressive bear skin. This ordeal earned him the nickname "Dead-Eye," which has not yet worn off. Not long after, the sheriff decided to retire. Joseph was only 18 at the time, but the sheriff would soon be turning 50 and getting much too old for his job. After a heart-to-heart talk with Joseph, the sheriff named him as the new sheriff. Even though he was pretty young for the job, the sheriff knew he was prepared for it, and Joseph accepted gladly. It has been about a year and half since, and Joseph has only improved at his job.