KING, Perry (1912 Biography)

KING, LANDES, RUNNELLS, HOLDEN, MILLER, REAMS, STEVENS, FERRIS, CUSTAR, BERRY, MATTOX, BUNDY, KERRICK, BLACK, GLASGOW

Posted By: Joey Stark
Date: 9/18/2007 at 20:58:57

History of Jefferson County, Iowa -- A Record of Settlement, Organization, Progress and Achievement, Vol II, Published 1912, S. J. Clarke Publishing Co., Chicago, Pages 338-341

Perry KING, filling the position of department oil inspector of Iowa, by appointment of the governor, and making his home in Fairfield, was born in Highland county, Ohio, May 26, 1844, his parents being Morris and Susannah (LANDES) KING. The father was born in New Jersey, December 5, 1796. He was an only son but had a number of sisters, and with the family he removed to Ohio in this childhood days, spending the remainder of his life there on a farm. He died in Highland county, May 4, 1851, at the age of fifty-five years. In the meantime he had cleared and improved two farms but his unflagging industry and hard work so undermined his health that death came to him when he should have been but in the prime of his life. In early manhood he had wedded Susannah LANDES, who was born in North Carolina, April 19, 1802. She long survived her husband and passed away in Highland county, April 27, 1893, when in her ninety-second year. Her mother was a RUNNELLS, a native of North Carolina, and when thirteen years of age she accompanied her parents on their emigration to Kentucky and later removed to Ohio, where her death occurred. She survived an Indian massacre in her native state, managing to save herself by hiding in an old fashioned bake oven. Her daughter, Mrs. KING, was one of the oldest residents of Highland county, not only in years but also in the length of her stay in that county. She became the mother of fourteen children, of whom six sons and seven daughters lived to marry and have families of their own, and the six boys never used tobacco in any form -- a most creditable record. Jane, the first child of the family, died in infancy. The others were: Mary, the deceased wife of Solomon HOLDEN; Mrs. Rebecca MILLER, a widow, living in Des Moines; William, of O'Brien county, Iowa; Henry, who was shot down while working in a field on his farm in Missouri at the outbreak of the Civil war; Huldah REAMS, deceased; John, who was a teacher and surveyor in Highland county for thirty years and died in Fairfield, while on a visit; Mrs. Margaret STEVENS, a widow, of Highland county, Ohio, whose husband was in the Civil war; Allen, who served in Company G, Thirtieth Iowa Volunteer Infantry during the Civil war and is now deceased; Mrs. Eliza FERRIS, a widow, of Highland county, Ohio, whose husband also was in the struggle between the north and the south; Mrs. Sarah PERRY, of Marion, Indiana; Robert, who servedin the One Hundred and Sixty-eighth Ohio Volunteer Infantry and died in Columbus, Ohio; Perry, of this review; and Mrs. Gelina CUSTAR, of Marion, Indiana.

Perry KING, who was next to the youngest in this large family of fourteen children, resided in his native county until he came to Iowa in 1808. In the meantime he had acquired his education in the common and select schools and had early become familiar with the work of the farm. When fourteen years of age he began teaching and at the age of sixteen was employed as a teacher in the public schools. He followed that profession for twenty years and was principal of the schools at Lynchburg, just prior to coming to Iowa. Following his arrival in Fairfield in 1880, he embarked in the grocery business in partnership with his brother Allen, under the firm style of Allen KING & Brother, this connection being maintained for eight years. Perry KING was afterward in business alone until 1898, when he sold out. He then enjoyed a rest of two years, after which he went upon the road as a traveling representative for a year for the Iowa Independent Order of Odd Fellows, making collections and securing subscribers for their paper. Subsequently he was with the firm of Springer & Stubbs, of California, for whom he sold imported horses and afterward he sold stock food for a local company. For three years he was agent for the Grand Union Tea Company, of New York, continuing in that position until the 11th of February, 1901, since which time he has been deputy oil inspector of Iowa under appointment of the governor.

Mr. KING is well known in fraternal circles. On the 22d of June, 1872, he joined Lafayette Lodge, No. 25, I. O. O. F. at Hillsboro, Ohio, and after coming to this state was transferred to Jefferson Lodge, No. 4, at Fairfield, and when Fairfield Lodge, No. 625, I. O. O. F. was organized, he became one of its charter members. He is also connected with Rebekah Lodge, No. 386, and he belongs to George Strong Post, No. 19, G. A. R. His political support has ever been given to the republican party, which was the defender of the Union during the dark days of the Civil war and has ever been the party of reform and progress. His religious faith is evidenced in his attendance in the Congregational church.

Mr. KING has been married twice. On the 15th of May, 1865, he wedded Phoebe Ann BERRY, who was born in Highland county, Ohio, December 25, 1841, and died in Fairfield, Iowa, October 4, 1889. She was a daughter of John BERRY, and by her marriage became the mother of five children: Emma E., the eldest, married Elmer E. MATTOX and they have been missionaries in Hang-chau, China, for the past seventeen years, under the auspices of the Presbyterian church. She is a graduate of Parsons College of Fairfield and also of a Chicago college. Mary E., the second daughter, is the wife of C. H. BUNDY, of Fathigarh, India. They, too, have been missionaries for the past sixteen years, being sent to a foreign field by the Presbyterian board. Mrs. BUNDY is likewise a graduate of Parsons College and of a Council Bluffs college. Gelina C. is the wife of F. D. KERRICK, of Fairfield, and is a graduate of the high school of this city; Wirt B., has for a number of years been a traveling salesman for the Carr Manufacturing Company, of Kansas City and lives in Fairfield. Lee A., a graduate of the Gem City Commercial College, of Quincy, Illinois, is now chief clerk and auditor of the National City Bank, of Chicago. On the 24th of December, 1890, Mr. KING was again married, his second union being with Miss Hadassah M. BLACK, who was born in Jefferson county, Iowa, June 22, 1845, and has always resided in this county. Her parents are Moses and Nancy (GLASGOW) BLACK, natives of Pennsylvania and West Virginia, respectively. They came to Jefferson county in 1844, entered land in Des Moines township, and were thereafter honored pioneer residents of this section until death. Mr. KING has become widely known during the thirty-one years of his residence in Fairfield and has the social qualities and sterling worth which have won for him the high regard and warm friendship of many with whom he has been brought in contact.

[Transcriber's note: The G.A.R. is the Grand Army of the Republic, the fore-runner of the American Legion.]

*Transcribed for genealogy purposes; I have no relation to the person(s) mentioned.