KING, D. W.

KING, WOOD, HALL, HUNTLEY, BOWEN

Posted By: Jean Kramer (email)
Date: 2/5/2004 at 17:05:20

Biography reproduced from page 62 of Volume II of the History of Kossuth County written by Benjamin F. Reed and published in 1913:

Time is rapidly thinning the ranks of the early pioneer settlers of Kossuth county, to whose unceasing diligence, perseverance and determination of purpose must be attributed the progress and development it has made in agricultural as well as commercial and industrial lines. One of the best known citizens of the pioneer period is D. W. King, who has resided here for over fifty-seven years, and still holds the title to the preemption he acquired from the government. He has born in Herkimer county, New York, on the 31st of August, 1830, and is a son of William and Persis (Wood) King, both of English extraction but members of old colonial families. The father was born in Vermont but in his early boyhood he went to New York to live with an aunt. When old enough to qualify for a life vocation he learned the miller’s trade, following this occupation for many years. Later he turned his attention to agricultural pursuits, in which he engaged during the remainder of his active life, passing away in Herkimer county in 1874. He was a captain in the militia cavalry during his early manhood and fraternally he was a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. The mother was a native of the Empire state, but was of New England descent, her father having been born and reared in Connecticut. He was also a captain of militia and came to central New York when it was but sparsely settled. The mother’s death occurred in 1885, and she was laid to rest in the cemetery at West Winfield, New York, where the father is also interred. They were the parents of eleven children: William, who was in the government service during the Civil war, now living at South Berlin, Massachusetts, at the venerable age of eighty-seven years; Parmilla and Esther, both of whom are deceased; Walter, who went to California during the gold excitement, but passed away at Grand Island, Nebraska, where his family still reside; D. W., our subject; Alonzo, who makes his home in Albany, New York; Almira, deceased; Chauncey, who went to California during the gold excitement and spent thirty years in fruitless prospecting on the Pacific coast; Henry H., deceased, who suffered the latter years of his life from a wound received in the army, having gone to the front as a member of a New York regiment and was with Sherman when he made his famous march; and Franklin Lafayette and Harriet E., both of whom are deceased.

D. W. King was reared in his native state, remaining at home until he was twenty-four years of age. In the acquirement of his education he first attended the common schools, later taking a course at the Bridgewater Academy. Believing that the west, as Iowa was then termed, afforded better opportunities to young men with limited means, he left home in 1854 and started for the Hawkeye state. He came to the terminus of the Rock Island railroad, and there obtained transportation to Des Moines with a man who was freighting merchandise to Polk county. In accordance with the helpful, accommodating spirit that then prevailed in this section of the country, he made room in his wagon for Mr. King’s trunk and together they walked or rode, as conditions were, from the river to Des Moines. It was during the rainy season in the fall, and the roads, which were not good at the best were almost impassable in places. The first day they got stuck in the mud, and Mr. King drove while the teamster pushed the wagon and through their united efforts they managed to get through. Thereafter when they came to an unusually bad place in the road, the teamster would say to Mr. King, at the same time giving him the lines: “you are the lightest, so stay on the wagon and drive.” There were no bridges, so they were also compelled to ford the streams and owing to the size of their load, and the conditions they constantly encountered, it was a slow and hard journey, it being impossible for them to make more than twelve or fifteen miles a day. When they reached Des Moines, Mr. King asked the driver what he owed him, and received the reply that the favor was the other way. At that time Des Moines, aside from the garrison, contained only a few cheaply constructed frame buildings scattered along the river front, and gave but little promise of becoming the metropolis of the state. Land where the capitol now stands could then be bought for five dollars per acre, and was not considered cheap.

Soon after his arrival, Mr. King obtained work on a farm in that vicinity husking corn, and while engaged at that a man came along in search of a teacher for one of the local schools. Being well qualified for the duties of such a position, Mr. King made application and his services ere accepted, so the succeeding four months he engaged in teaching seven miles from the fort. At the expiration of his term he and a Mr. Preston shouldered their grips and stared on foot for the northern part of the state, Mr. King having four hundred dollars in gold in a body belt, that he was desirous of investing. In passing a log tavern at Sailorville, a man called, “Hello, lads! Where are you going?” It was Judge Asa Call, who had an ox team that he wanted them to drive back to Kossuth county for him, as he wished to buy more oxen on the return trip. This suited them perfectly and they continued with him and before reaching Fort Dodge he had bought eight yoke of oxen. They subsequently arrived at their destination, remaining with the Judge until they came to the present site of Algona. Soon thereafter Mr. King entered his employ, being put to work breaking prairie with an ox team and so he broke the first prairie in Kossuth county. During this time he was looking for a location on which to settle, and finally decided on the north half of section 13. He squatted on this until it was placed on the market and the next spring erected thereon a small cabin, containing one room, thirteen by fifteen, with a clapboard roof and weight pole. It was heated by means of a crudely constructed fireplace, that was pointed with sticks and mud. The first winter Mr. King lived in Mr. Paine’s cabin and one day when returning from hunting he stopped at his cabin and found written on the door in chalk:

“Of viler things we deign to sing,

Behold the mansion of a king.

He’s off with gun and steed and hound

To chase the antlered hero down.”

On another occasion he found in the same writing:

“The ground about is strewn with gore,

And poets patronize his door.”

About 1868 or 1869, Mr. King bought an interest in a mill and took charge of the operation of the same for about two years. He then returned to his original farm. In connection with general farming and stock-raising, Mr. King devoted his energies to the development of various enterprises, and was the first man in the county to engage in the manufacture of cheese. He met with success in the development of his various undertakings, and increased his holdings until they aggregated four hundred and sixty acres. He made many and extensive improvements on his homestead, including the erection of fine buildings and brought his land to a high state of productivity. In addition to his valuable farm, Mr. King owns a fine residence and two lots in Algona, where he now resides.

In 1860 was celebrated the marriage of Mr. King to Miss Lydia Hall, who was born and reared in Oneida county, New York. Her natal day was the 10th of August, 1834, and per parents Phineas and Lydia (Huntley) Hall, were also natives of the Empire state. Mr. and Mrs. King have known each other from childhood, having been schoolmates from the time she was a girl of ten years. The family of Mr. and Mrs. Hall numbered four, as follows: Menzo and Mary E., both of whom are deceased; Mrs. King; and Jennie. Eight children were born to Mr. and Mrs. King: William Hall, who lives in the vicinity of Hobart, Iowa; Belle P., the deceased wife of Roy Bowen, of Algona; Grant, deceased; David P., of Earleton, Kansas; Lydia May, who married Dr. William Bowen, of Fort Dodge, Iowa; Arthur A., who lives at Stratton, Colorado; Walter S., who is a resident of Sioux City, Iowa; and Fred M., who is living in Des Moines.

The parents are members of the Congregational church, and Mr. King has always been a republican in politics, and for two terms he served as county supervisor. He is one of the widely known residents of the county and is accorded the esteem and regard that is the just and highly merited reward of a well spent and honorable life.