Charles M. King

As printed in 1906

CHARLES M. KING, residing on section 20, Berrien township, his time and energies being devoted to the improvement of his farm there, was born in the town of Leslie, Ingham county, Michigan, iVpril 4, 1858, and comes of English ancestry. The family was founded in America at an early period in the history of the new world and from pioneer times the name of King has figured in connection with the annals of Michigan. The grandfather, Rev. Job King, was a minister of the Baptist church for many years and was engaged in preaching at Miliburg in Berrien county at the time of his death in the '80s. He was a man of much influence in the church and a life of consecrated zealand devotion to the cause made his labors most effective in advancing the moral development of the communities with which he was connected. His son, Fred F. King, was born in New York, and became a resident of Michigan in early life. Taking up his above in Pipestone township, Berrien county, he there engaged in farming for three years and also devoted a similar period to the operation of a saw mill in that township. He then sold out and removed to Sodus township, where he carried on general farming for thirty years, harvesting good crops and transforming his land into productive fields. He took an active part in public affairs and his devotion to the general good was manifest in the able manner in which he discharged the various official duties that devolved upon him. He served for thirteen years as supervisor and was also trustee and treasurer of the township for several years and likewise filled other positions. While he is not at the present time so actively connected with public life as in former years, he is still a respected resident of Berrien county and has passed the seventy-sixth milestone on life's journey. He married Susan Freeman, who was born in Ohio and is also living. In their family were eleven children nine of whom yet survive. C. M. King, the second child and second son of the family, was taken by his parents to Ohio when about two years of age and remained there until five years old. The family then returned to Berrien county, locating in Pipestone township and after six years removed to Sodus township. He began his education in the district schools of the former and continued his studies in the public schools of the latter township, where he pursued his studies until he reached the age of twenty-one years. He then went to Valparaiso, Indiana, where he completed the teacher's course in the Northern Indiana Normal School, subsequent to which time he engaged successfully in teaching for about fifteen years in Berrien county. He was for three years at Stevensville in Lincoln township, for two years had charge of the South Lincoln school, for six years was a teacher in Oronoko township and for four years in Sodus township. An able educator he imparted clearly and readily to others the knowledge that he had acquired and became classed with the leading representatives of public instruction in Berrien county. At length abandoning the work of the schoolroom he took up farming in Sodus township and in 1900 purchased a tract of land on section 19, Berrien township. After three years, however, he sold this and removed to the state of Washington, where he remained for one year, engaged in farming. He then returned to Berrien county and bought the farm upon which he now resides, on section 20, Berrien township. Here he is engaged in the raising of grain and fruit, having well developed fields and well kept orchards, both of which return good crops.

Mr. King has been married twice. In 1889 he wedded Letha Hogue, of Sodus township, a daughter of Charles and Hannah Hogue. She died in 1890, leaving one son, Clayton M. In 1892 Mr. King wedded Nancy I. Hart, a daughter of Orlando and Elizabeth Hart, of Sodus township, where her birth occurred. There are four children of this marriage, Allison J., Ada Grace, Esther Marian and James E.

Mr. King is a stanch Republican, unfaltering in his advocacy of the principles of the party and active in promoting its growth. While in Sodus township he was elected and served as supervisor for five different terms, resigning that office on his removal to Berrien township. He was also school inspector and township clerk of Sodus township. He belongs to the Masonic fraternity and to the Modern Woodmen camp, and he holds membership in the Christian church. During a residence of forty years in Berrien county his life record has always been such as would bear the closest investigation and scrutiny and the name of Charles M. King is one which commands the respect of all with whom business or social relations have brought him in contact.

As printed in A twentieth century history of Berrien County, Michigan (1906). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.