Joseph Talmage Prevette was born in Wilkes County, North Carolina, on March 10, 1885. In 1905, Prevette opened a clothing store North Wilkesboro, Prevette Brothers, which he ran with his brothers Roscoe and Royal. By 1934, Prevette’s business, now co-owned with his sons, had expanded to locations in Elkin and Boone. In addition to his clothing business, Prevette served on the board of directors of several North Wilkesboro banks and served as president of Forester Prevette Insurance Company. Prevette, a longtime member of the North Carolina Republican Party, served as a delegate to the 1928 Republican National Convention. He died in North Wilkesboro (Wilkes County) on March 27, 1943.