In the book's own words, not ours, with obvious scanning errors fixed. Families often supplied these stories to the publisher, so check key dates.
Born 1852
From History of Ray County, Mo. (1881)
JOHN S. KING.
John S. King was born in Ray county, Missouri, September 5, 1852. His early life was spent on a farm, and his education acquired in the district schools of his father's neighborhood. He followed farming for some time, and then turned his attention to buying and selling grain. Later he entered the dry goods and general merchandise trade at Hardin, in which he is now engaged. Mr. King was married in the year 1876, to Miss Theodosia Happy. One child, named Ford, is the result of this union. The subject of this article is one of the first business men of the town of Hardin, and is held in high esteem for his many good qualities by those who know him. He is comparatively a young man, and his past achievements show that he will fight well and truly the battle of life, which opens before him.
As printed in History of Ray County, Mo. (1881). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.
The printed record stops around 1881. We trace your line from there down to you, with every source cited.