When Joseph William Short was born on 28 March 1899, in Henderson, Kentucky, United States, his father, Joseph William Short, was 35 and his mother, Margaret Marston Clay, was 29. He married Lenna Mary Stevens on 11 December 1921, in Bandera, Bandera, Texas, United States. They were the parents of at least 1 son. He lived in Medina, Texas, United States in 1900 and Justice Precinct 1, Bandera, Texas, United States for about 10 years. He registered for military service in 1918. He died on 19 July 1969, in Kerrville, Kerr, Texas, United States, at the age of 70, and was buried in Bandera, Texas, United States.