Complex sentence: She and Joseph had had two children, a daughter, Messanie, who preceded her mother in death, and a son, Joseph E. Robidoux, later known to history-though not during his life-as "Indian Joe".
Split into simpler sentences: She and Joseph had had two children, a daughter, Messanie, who preceded her mother in death, and a son, Joseph E. Robidoux. He was later known to history-though not during his life-as "Indian Joe".