Mr Smith was elevated to Grand Master for Victoria for the Manchester Unity Independant Order of Oddfellows (MUIOOF) in 1913 when he attended the annual conference of the order held at Williamstown. This position was attained by keen and enthusiastic attention to the affairs of the lodge. He had an excellent knowledge of lodge laws and filled the job with credit. He was a past-president of the Geelong Friendly Societies' Dispensary, being elected as the first president in November 1899.
He took an interest in supporting his community and was president of the Geelong West Free Library, a member of the Geelong West State School board and a member of the Geelong West Progress Association. He was a worshipper at St Paul's Church and had been a vestryman on several occasions.
In his trade as a monumental mason he was particularly successful, and had learned his trade and gained practical experience after a modelling and designing course in Mr Sasse's Technological school. He carried on his business at 240 Ryrie Street, Geelong.
He rented the site from Benjamin Holdsworth from the 1890s and some time between 1910 and 1915 when he purchased the property. When he died his widow Sarah Hannah (née Taylor) inherited the property, which consisted of a brick building, weatherboard office and land.
In 1927 Hannah had a house built on land adjoining the stone yard after demolishing an existing brick cottage. It was described as an asymmetrical, two storey, unpainted brick interwar house. It had a recessed balcony porch under the main roof, which is supported by cement rendered Doric columns. Soon after it was converted to flats, Hannah living in one and the other rented out. After Hannah died Charles and Allan inherited the property. Hannah and Joseph's children were:
Joseph John — born 1891, died 1900
Ethel Harriet — born in 1897, married Albert John Cousin in 1921, died on 8 January 1926 at Brighton
Allan Joseph — born in 1901, married Margaret Ann Jean Messervy, died on 2 August 1963
Charles Gilson — born in 1903, died on 22 August 1879
Joseph left an estate of £5420. After his death his business, was carried on by sons, Allan and Charles. Hannah died in August 1942 at the age of 77. She was buried with Joseph in the Church of England section of the Geelong Western Cemetery.
Examples of his work:
Blyth, Ewing and Agnes
Ellis, Robert and Elizabeth
Lewis, Harold Clifford (son of William and Ellen)
Lewis, William and Ellen
Parker, William and Margaret Helen