JOEL KNEELAND - A native of New England Joel Kneeland was born in Vermont in 1830.  In 1860 he removed with his family to Shawnee county, Kans.  In 1870 the family went to the western part of the same county and carried on farming there until 1874, when the father died.  Subsequent the son came with his mother to Red Bluff, Cal., where they farmed four years, and from there they removed to Mr. Kneeland's present ranch, where he has since prospered.  The woman who became Mr. Kneeland's wife was Agnes Wilson, of Scotch descent, who came to California about twenty years ago.  They have five children: Eugene S., Francis F., Joel M., Mary O., and Willis W., of whom the three eldest are attending school.
     Politically the father of Mr. Kneeland was a Republican, and he himself is a Socialist.  His mother died at the age of sixty years, and her mother lived to the advanced age of eighty-seven.  Mr. Kneeland is a member of the Farmers' Union and affiliates with the Modern Woodmen.  As a farmer he ranks with the best in his neighborhood.  Of his thirty-acre farm he has three acres under alfalfa, most of the remainder being pasture land.  HE keeps fifteen to eighteen head of stock, and from twelve to twenty hogs.

Source: HISTORY OF TULARE and KINGS COUNTIES, CALIFORNIA - Published by Historic Record Company, Los Angeles, California - 1913 - Page 325
NOTE:  Hard to tell where this family lived -
Found in 1840 Census Judicial Twp. 10 - Fresno Co., CAL. the following:
500- O-900 - Kneeland, Benjamin - Head - MW 73 M Md. 8 8  b. Kansas - same house - Famer - Farm
                      - Agnes   Wife - F W 63 Md.            b. Scotland
                      - Eugene  Son  M W 40 S                 b. California - same house  -  Farmer - Farm
                      - Willis     Son M W 30 S                   b. California   - Road