oseph Wadley was born December 23, 1830 in Newent, Gloucestershire, England. Joseph was 21 years of age when he was taught the gospel of Jesus Christ and baptized into the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. In 1853, at the age of 23, Joseph immigrated to Utah Territory to be with the main body of the Church. In 1869, Joseph Wadley, because of the homestead act, was granted legal title to 32 acres on Lindon Hill, outside of Pleasant Grove, Utah.

He worked hard to clean the land of sagebrush and rock to plant fruit trees of all varieties and berry bushes. As a horticulturist by trade Joseph planted and cared for a large variety of shade trees and plants on his farm. In his journal he lists: horse chestnut, honey locust, Norway maple, sycamore, pine trees, cedar trees, box elder, elm trees, hazel nut, black walnut, lilacs, mock orange, honeysuckle, bridle wreath, forsythia, roses, grape hyacinth, violets, peonies, daisies, phlox, bleeding heart, daffodils, double buttercups, snow drops, and tiny blue forgetnots.

In the orchards were mint, catnip, spring asparagus, English hops and Virginia creeper. Joseph planted the first flowering Hawthorne tree in Utah valley and it is still alive and blooming today. He planted a formal garden such as those found in England. Joseph Wadley sold the farm to his son, Joseph Daniel Wadley, and in 1925 it was sold to, Joseph Daniel Wadley, Jr., my grandfather.

In 1988 a grandson purchased 20 acres of the original farm along with the home from my grandfather's estate and as a tribute to them, named it Wadley Farms.

In his journal, Joseph Wadley kept notes the varieties of fruit that he planted showing the great contribution this man gave to the propagation of fruit and bushes in Utah Territory.

Common crops today are corn, pumpkin and tomatoes. The farm also raises farm bred, free range angus beef.

Historic orchard crops include: