Joseph Pasonault was born in 1876 in St. Johns, Newfoundland, Canada. At the age of six, he moved with his family to Iowa. They moved again when Pasonault was twelve, this time to Rolla, North Dakota.

He began to work as a photographer in 1896, when he was sixteen years of age. He apprenticed in Devils Lake and in 1896, he opened his first studio in Cando. He practiced there until 1909, when he relocated to Williston.

In addition to the portrait work that came with his chosen profession, he was known for his photographs of the communities in which he lived. Examples include a 1903 photograph of a scene at a racetrack in Cando and a 1916 image of pontoon bridge in Williston.

In addition to photography, he was also an accomplished solo violinist who often performed in public.

In his personal life, he was married to Catherine Callahan, an Irish immigrant. They had six children: Leo, Louise, Fanette, Antoinette, Denice, and Daniel.

- Ben Nemenoff

Sources:

• State Historical Society of North Dakota
• Institute for Regional Studies (North Dakota State University)

Images courtesy of the State Historical Society of North Dakota (#0739-v1-p62b and #A3642).