Born in Hamilton County, Ohio, where his father, Joseph McMaken, Sr., had located in 1790, being at that time one of the first pioneers, and making a home in that undeveloped country. Joseph Jr., was reared upon a farm in Ohio, and learned to love agriculture as only those can who have become familiar with its pleasures and profits. He was of age when coming to this county, and had been engaged in teaching public schools for a short time in Ohio. He purchased a claim in Flint River Township in 1839, and later entered the same, and to this he added other valuable real estate. Mr. McMaken was united in marriage to Miss Parthena M. Green on October 21, 1841. He was clerk of the election at the time of the township organization, and was elected one of the Board of Inspectors to district the township for school purposes. A strong anti-slavery partisan from his boyhood, he became a member of the Free Soil party, and was their candidate in 1854 for State Treasurer. Espousing the Republican platform at the organization of that party, Mr. McMaken became it earnest advocate, and in the autumn of 1863 was elected as a Republican Representative from Des Moines County to a seat in the Tenth General Assembly. After his time had expired, he was elected a member of the Board of County Supervisors, serving a term of three years. He is a member of the Presbyterian Church.