Alex Joseph

Alex Joseph (1931 – September 27, 1998) (also referred to as Ronald Ellison [Joseph is given the pseudonym of "Ronald Ellison" when discussed by Dorothy Allred Solomon in her book "In My Father's House"; see D. Michael Quinn, "Plural Marriage and Mormon Fundamentalism", in Martin E. Marty and R. Scott Appleby (eds.) (1991). "Fundamentalism and Society: Reclaiming the Sciences, the Family, and Education" (Urbana: University of Illinois Press, ISBN 0226508803) pp. 240–290 at p. 286 n. 61.] ) was a Mormon fundamentalist leader and founder of the Confederate Nations of Israel. As mayor of Big Water, Utah, Joseph was the first Libertarian mayor of a community in the United States.

Mormon fundamentalism

Joseph was raised in the Greek Orthodox Church, but he became a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church) in 1955. In 1959, he abandoned the LDS Church and joined a group of Mormon fundamentalists under the leadership of Rulon C. Allred in Pinesdale, Montana. In time, he convinced four students at the University of Montana to marry him and become his plural wives. His wives were not Latter Day Saints; rather, two were Roman Catholics, one was a Methodist, and one was a Presbyterian.D. Michael Quinn, "Plural Marriage and Mormon Fundamentalism", "", vol. 31, no. 2, pp. 22–23.] The parents of the students were outraged and confronted Allred with their displeasure. Joseph was unrepentant and eventually was asked by Allred to leave the colony in Montana. [Dorothy Allred Solomon (2003). "Predators, Prey, and Other Kinfolk: Growing Up in Polygamy" (New York: W. W. Norton) p. 287.]

Big Water and Confederate Nations of Israel

Joseph and his wives moved to Kane County, Utah to a deserted settlement known as Glen Canyon City; Joseph renamed the settlement Big Water in 1983. Joseph became the first mayor of the newly renamed settlement. In 1977, he organized the Confederate Nations of Israel, a hybrid church–political organization modelled after Mormonism's Council of Fifty. [http://www.mormonfundamentalism.com/ChartLinks/AlexJoseph.htm Alex Joseph: The Conferderate Nations of Israel] .]

Libertarian mayor

In April 1986, Joseph made news when he abandoned the Republican Party and joined the Libertarian Party and by so doing became the first American mayor to be a member of the Libertarian Party. [http://www.lp.org/lpn/9812-Joseph.html "Alex Joseph, first LP mayor, dies at 62"] , "Libertarian Party News", Dec. 1998.] Joseph also convinced the four other members of the town council to join the Libertarians, thereby creating America's first "Libertarian Party town government" in Big Water. The Libertarian government abolished all taxes on real estate in the town. Joseph stepped down as mayor in 1994 after serving three consecutive terms.

Occupations, family and death

At different times in his life, Joseph was employed as a U.S. Marine, a police officer, a firefighter, a mail carrier, a car salesman, an accountant, an author of books, a health food producer a private investigator, and as a manager for country and western music performers. He also starred in a movie about himself known as "Alex Joseph and His Wives". He requested that his occupation on his death certificate be listed as "pirate". Although it has been estimated that he may have married up to twenty women at various times, Joseph was survived by seven wives as well as by 21 children. He died of liver cancer at the age of 62.

Notes

References

* Brian C. Hales (2006). "Modern Polygamy and Mormon Fundamentalists : The Generations after the Manifesto" (Salt Lake City, Utah: Greg Kofford Books)

External links

*Brandon Burt, [http://qsaltlake.com/2004/2/feature.shtml "Utah's Gay Mayor"] , "Salt Lake Metro" : article contains background information on Joseph, his adoption of Libertarianism, and the founding of Big Water, Utah