KING, Dr. Joel Elisha - 1890 Bio (1813-1890)

KING, MORGAN, BARNES, SMITH, HOSKINS, HOFFMAN, LOWELL, MITCHELL

Posted By: Joey Stark
Date: 8/12/2007 at 12:58:30

Portrait and Biographical Album of Jefferson and Van Buren Counties, Iowa, Printed 1890 by Lake City Publishing Co., Chicago
Pages 310-312

Dr. Joel Elisha KING, deceased, was born in Sandersfield, Berkshire County, Mass., November 26, 1813, and was of Irish descent. His grandfather, Dr. Robert KING, was born near Cork, Ireland, in 1740, and about 1767, wedded a Miss MORGAN. They are supposed to have married in the old country, but soon afterward came to America, settling in Blanford, Berkshire County, Mass. The sixth child in their family of eleven children was born on the 9th of May, 1777, in Blanford, Mass., and to him was given the name of Robert. In 1808 he was commissioned Lieutenant of a company in the First Brigade, Ninth Division of the Massachusetts Militia, and in 1812 promoted to be Captain of the same. A man of marked ability, he gave his attention to the study of medicine and surgery, and soon took prominence among the physicians and surgeons of that place. In his earlier years he became addicted to the use of stong drink, but becoming convinced of its hurtfulness, he abandoned the use of all liquors, and became a strong advocate of the cause of temperance. In 1826, he removed to Portage County, Ohio, purchased a farm of two hundred acres near Charleston Center, and laying aside the arduous duties of a practitioner spent the remainder of his life in retirement in the home which he there made. He was twice married, but by the latter union had no children. His first wife was Miss Bridget MORGAN, and a famiy of twelve children was born unto them.

The personal history of our subject, Dr. J. E. KING, is as follows: In the common schools of Ohio, he acquired his education, and at the age of fifteen began the study of medicine. After reaching manhood, he bought a piece of land in Charleston, Ohio, and with his own hands cleared away the timber, developing from the hitherto uncultivated tract a rich and fertile farm. In Norton, Summit County, Ohio, on the 3d of April, 1835, he was united in marriage with Miss Emeline BARNES, who was born December 24, 1813, in Tolland, Hamden County, Mass. Her father, Phineas BARNES, who was born in Massachusetts October 7, 1770, and her mother, whose maiden name was Abigail SMITH, was born in the Bay State, June 10, 1780. In 1814, they removed to Ohio, locating in Summit County, where they spent the remainder of their lives. Mr. BARNES was a well-to-do farmer, and himself and wife were devoted workers in the Methodist Church. Their family numbered nine sons and three daughters, but only four are now living: Dennison, who is living in Bloomington, Ill., at the age of eighty-nine years; John, a resident of Michigan; Corintha, wife of Meritt HOSKINS, of Michigan; and Mrs. KING; Salmon, when a young man, went south and joined the regular army, and after serving about a year, died at Ft. Gibson. Phineas BARNES, the father of this family, died March 1, 1857, at the age of eighty-seven years, and the death of his wife occurred on the 6th of May, 1849.

Dr. KING continued his farming operations in Ohio, until 1838, when he sold out and removed to Salem, Marion County, Ill., where he engaged in the practice of medicine until, believing his services were more needed in the work of the ministry, sold out and began preaching. He had been converted at the age of seventeen years, and from that time was a constant Bible student. Having engaged in pastoral work for about two years, he again resumed the practice of medicine, making his home on a farm near Clinton, until 1853, when he removed to that town and engaged in mercantile pursuits, but the financial panic of 1857, came on and with many hundreds of others he was engulfed in ruin.

During the first year of the Civil War, Dr. KING, with an earnest desire to aid his country, enlisted in Company E, Twentieth Illinois Infantry, and was detailed in the hospital of the regiment. In 1862, he was taken sick, but not able to get full relief he was placed in charge of the smallpox hospital in Louisville, Ky. He did not rally from the effects of his own illness, however, and in October, 1862 received his discharge. When he entered the service, his weight was one hundred and fifty pounds, but on his return home he weighed only eighty-nine pounds. During his absence a homœpathic physician, Dr. Hummel, had located in Clinton. Failing to find relief in any of the various remedies which he had tried, Dr. KING was pursuaded by his wife to try homœpathic treatment, and finally to study the same with Dr. Hummel. He himself was so much benefited, that he became impressed with the desire to know more of the system, and from that time forward practiced it altogether. In March, 1865, he removed with his family to Fairfield, where he continued the practice of medicine until his death. He was a successful doctor, and had an extensive practice over a large range of territory. His ability was the secret of his popularity, and the liberal patronage which he received was well deserved. In his political sentiments, the Doctor was a Republican, and in his social connections was a Mason. He was also a strong advocate of the cause of temperance, and was a liberal supporter of all worthy enterprises. Charitable and benevolent, his generosity was everywhere known, and the poor and needy found in him a valued friend.

To Dr. and Mrs. KING were born eight children, but two daughters died in childhood. The living are: Sylvester M., a physician of Albia, Iowa, who enlisted in Company E, Twentieth Illinois Infantry, on te 19th of April, 1861, participated in the battles of Frederickstown, Mo., Ft. Donelson and Shiloh, where he was severely wounded, after which he was discharged in October, 1862, but in August, 1864, he re-enlisted as a member of Company I, Sixth Ohio Cavalry, and served until the close of the war. Edward H., the second of the family, like his brother, is a graduate of Hahnemann College, of Chicago, and is now engaged in the practice of medicine in Denver, Col. He served three years in Company B, One Hundred and Seventh Illinois Infantry, and was in nearly all the battles of the regiment; Ellen is the wife of Thomas L. HOFFMAN, who is mentioned elsewhere in this work; Joel B. is extensively engaged in business in Elbert, Colo.; Alice is the wife of Dr. Joseph S. LOWELL, of Clinton, Iowa; Emma, the youngest of the family, is the wife of William S. MITCHELL, a druggist of Bloomfield.

On the 1st of June, 1890, Dr. J. E. KING passed from among the living. In his death the church society, and his family, suffered an irreparable loss. Few men have endeared themselves to the hearts of the people of the community than he. His wife is still living in Fairfield, and is an active member of the Methodist Episcopal Church.

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