[In the episodes "First Born" (1962) and "Marie, My Love" (1963), viewers learn of Little Joe's older, half-brother Clay Stafford, born to his French Creole mother Marie. In Lorne Greene's 1964 song "Saga of the Ponderosa" ("Bonanza" Box Set, Bear Family Records/ CD Collection, disc 1), Marie's first husband was "Big Joe" Collins who dies saving Ben's life. After Ben marries Marie, they chose to call their son "Little Joe". Whether to Stafford or Collins, Marie Cartwight was previously married.]

I don't know where Wikapedia got this, but apparently this was made up exclusively for that particular recording for some strange reason. About a year ago I went into Wikapedia and added a correction to what is Bonanza canon. Marie's firs husband's name was Jean DeMarigny. They never explained why Clay used the name Stafford. Jean died saving Ben's life. Joe's name has nothing to do with any "Big Joe" Collins. Joe was named Joseph after Ben's father. Joe states in several episodes that his family called him little Joe because he is the youngest and his brother Hoss is so much bigger.

In "Journey Remembered" when Hoss is born Ben wants to name him JOseph after his father, but goes with Inger's wishes to name him Eric after her father and says that they will name their next son Joseph. Marie's first husband is referred to as Jean DeMarigny in both "Marie my Love" and "First Born. Two episodes I can think of without looking it up where Joe explains "Little" Joe are "Rose for Lotta" and "Twilight Town."