King, Oliver & Olive Ann

KING, HEATON

Posted By: Linda Ziemann, Family Researcher
Date: 2/14/2012 at 16:37:41

Oliver King Family

Oliver King came to Plymouth County, Iowa, in 1870 from Illinois to homestead in Liberty Township. His wife, Olive Ann Heaton King, came in late spring. Oliver was a Civil War veteran and knew how to grave the hardships of a homesteader. The first was a grasshopper plague that destroyed all the crops, then came the prairie fires, last but not least two blizzards in the Winter of 1872, when many lives were lost.

Four children were born on this homestead. With no school near by, the family moved across the road north to Johnson Township into a well-built home, more land, and a school. Seven children were born in this home. Two of which passed away at an early age. The school which the children attended was called the Adaville School.

On Sunday night, November 13, 1921, while the family was attending church, fire destroyed this home, which was one of the oldest landmarks in the county. At the time of the fire, Warren J. King (one of the sons of Oliver & Olive) and his family were living in the house. A new home was built later that same year.

Oliver and Olive Ann retired in their later years, leaving their sons to farm in their place.

Oliver passed away on April 21, 1932, and Olive Ann on April 3, 1933. They were laid to rest in the Pleasant Valley Cemetery at Adaville.

~Source: Merrill Centennial 1872-1972, pp. 91-92.