So I have Eddie taking over the family farm in this AU, and would it make sense for his father to have passed away after one of those visits from Josiah? So that Eddie is cold around him because those rumors and then it looks like it happened to Eddie's Pa...

I also feel like this version of Eddie would be less cautious and careful than the canon Eddie, and might run his mouth more. If you want to play up Josiah being somewhat isolated like when he was alive in his canon.