Henry L. King

As printed in 1906

HENRY L. KING, who owns valuable farms devoted to horticultural pursuits in Benton township, represents one of the old pioneer families of this section of the state. His father, George D. King, was born in Jefferson county. New York and came to Michigan in the fall of 1843 with his wife and two children, Eunice and Henry L., the latter being then but three years of age, his birth having occurred on the 27th of January, 1841, in New London, Ohio. It was there that George D. King was married to Miss Susan Williams, a native of New York. Her parents had removed to Michigan and this it was that decided Mr. King to come to this state. He traded his Ohio land for eighty acres of land in the woods a mile and a half from the Territorial road and about the same distance south of the Watervliet road. He cut a road across from one highway to the other in order to get from the Stanley neighborhood to the mill at Millburg. He was the first man to settle in the locality where he established his home. There was no one to the east or west of him and no one south nearer than Millburg or north nearer than Stanley, a distance of a mile and a half. He settled on his land in the spring of 1844, taking up his residence in a log house and bravely meeting the hardships, privations and dangers incident to pioneer life. From that time on he gave his attention to clearing his farm, cutting out the timber, making states, etc., and as the years passed by he transformed the land into productive fields. His father, Henry King, of Ohio, assisted him to some extent. George D. King made farming his business for many years but spent the last twenty years of his life in St. Joseph, where he died at the age of eighty-two years. As time had passed he had extended the boundaries of his property until his aggregate interests amounted to four hundred and forty acres in different parts of the county, this land being comprised in four farms. He made improvements upon the different places and owing to his efforts about two hundred acres were cultivated and a marked transition from the wild forests to improved fields was carried on. He had one hundred and fifty acres in his home farm and the attractive appearance of his place indicated his careful supervision and practical and progressive methods. He built a plank house as soon as he could and it is still in use after fifty years, being one of the old landmarks of the county which has stood as a mute witness of many changes that have occurred and many events which have shaped the history and molded the policy of this part of the state. Mr. King also owned valuable timber land in the county which he sold to Mr. McGuigan to cut into lumber. He made money by buying cheap land which he would hold until he could get a considerable advance in price. He lived economically, saving his money and thus in the course of years he became a well-to-do citizen and was enabled in his last years to enjoy rest from further business cares. Henry L. King had but very limited educational privileges, for he was busy from an early age. When but a boy he hauled states to St. Joseph, where they were used in the manufacture of barrels. George D. King, not only made a living but also considerable surplus money out of the timber which was converted into spokes, states and ties and also some lumber was manufactured. His life was devoted to the farm until he retired from active business. He lost several thousand dollars through trusting to the honesty of other men. He had business transactions with one man to the amount of six thousand dollars without even taking a note from him. He would purchase timber land from people who made certain claims for it, believing them to be honest. Notwithstanding his losses in this direction he was worth fully twenty thousand dollars at his death. His wife passed away at the age of eighty-one years.

In their family were six children and with one exception all are now living, a sister, Eunice, who became the wife of Merzy

Gustine, having died at the age of fifty years. Those who still survive are: Henry L., of this review; George D., a farmer residing at Mauston, Wisconsin; De Loss, who is living in Benzie county, Michigan; De Golier, who resides upon the old homestead; and DeWitt, who is also living in Benzie county, Michigan. The father was a Whig in his political affiliation in early life and upon the dissolution of that party joined the ranks of the new Republican party. He was very active in politics, never missing an opportunity to vote and though he did not seek or desire political preferment for himself his activity was that of a public-spirited and loyal citizen. Two of his sons, George and Henry L., were soldiers of the Union army in the Civil war.

Henry L. King, whose name introduces this record, remained at home until twenty-one years of age, after which he returned to Ohio. Following the outbreak of the Civil war he enlisted at New London, Ohio, in the Eighty-seventh Ohio Infantry for three months' service. He was captured at Harper's Ferry but was immediately exchanged and returned to Ohio. There he re-enlisted in 1863 as a member of Company G, Twelfth Ohio Infantry under Captain Graves, at which time he joined his regiment. His brother George enlisted at the same time. In the spring of 1864 he was sent to join the command of General Steele at Little Rock, Arkansas, and was discharged with his regiment in 1865.

When the war was over Henry L. King returned to his home and was married the following year, 1866, to Miss Esther Lawrence, a cousin of John Lawrence and a daughter of Richard and Elizabeth (Simonds) Lawrence, who had come from Canada before the war and lived in this vicinity. Her father died while serving in the United States army and her mother, who long survived, passed away at the very advanced age of ninety years. She had lived with her daughter, Mrs. King.

It was in the spring of 1866 that Mr. King began to clear his tract of land of forty acres, which had been given to him by his father. He has since lived upon this place and has transformed it into a very valuable farm. He also worked up the timber and this gave to him a living while he cleared the land. He also has a tract of forty acres near by, but has made his home upon the original forty acres for four decades, his attention being given to general agricultural pursuits. In all that he does he is practical and he works persistently and with determination to make the most of his farm and gather therefrom good crops.

Unto Mr. and Mrs. King have been born six children. Herman, who died at the age of twenty-eight years, was a veterinary surgeon of Grank Rapids, having graduated from the Detroit Veterinary College, after which he was getting a good start in practice when he died. Nellie is the wife of Dr. Leonard C. Conkey, a veterinary surgeon of Grand Rapids. Cuba is at home. Elmo is a veterinary surgeon at Lake View, Michigan. Myrtle is the wife of Flarry Wyman, of Benton Harbor. Bert is also at home.

Mr. King's study of the political issues and questions of the day has led him to give unfaltering support to the Republican party since age conferred upon him the right of franchise and yet he has never sought or decided office for himself, preferring to concentrate his time and energies upon his business affairs. Formerly he was identified with George H. Thomas Post, G. A. R., at Benton Harbor and he manifests the same loyalty in citizenship in times of peace that he displayed when in times of war he followed the old flag upon the battle-fields of the south.

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.