My Genealogy Hound

JOHN B. KING is one of the native sons of Johnson County, his birth having occurred February 1, 1844, on his father’s homestead in Center View Township. Since the close of the war he has made his dwelling-place on the farm which he then purchased, and which is situated in Madison Township. To his first eighty acres he has since added two hundred and forty acres, thus making a valuable and good sized farm. He has put most of the improvements upon the place himself, and though he has raised stock to some extent has made a specialty of growing grain. All of his possessions he has acquired since the war, as when he came out of the army he was penniless.

The father of our subject, Ambrose Lewis King, who was a well known citizen of this county, was born in Jefferson County, Tenn., April 5, 1815, and departed this life at his old home, October 21, 1888. Prior to coming West, he operated a farm in eastern Tennessee, and while there held several official positions. In 1839 he started with his family in a wagon to take up his residence in this county, settling on the farm in Center View Township on which he passed his last years. His wife, who was a Miss Hannah McGee, was born in Jefferson County, Tenn., February 11, 1819, and died September 6, 1846, leaving three children: William C., who operates a farm in Center View Township; John B., of this sketch; and Nancy J., wife of R. B. Graham, who is mentioned on another page in this Record. The second wife of Ambrose L. King bore the maiden name of Marilla Oliphant. She was born in Greene County, Tenn., July 19, 1826, and is still living on the old place. Of her three children, two died in childhood, and Susan is the wife of W. S. Fisher. Mrs. Marilla King is a member of the Baptist Church, while Mr. King and his first wife belonged to the Cumberland Presbyterian Church. Politically he was first a Whig and later a Democrat. After coming to this county he served as Constable, and was Coroner of Post Oak Township for a time.

Resuming the life narrative of John B. King, we find that February 27, 1862, he became a member of Company A, Seventh Missouri State Militia, under Tom Houts, and served in the same company until the close of the war, being discharged in St. Louis in March, 1865. He was in engagements at Jefferson City, Big and Little Blue, Dry Fork and many others. On one occasion he was taken prisoner and for a few days held captive at Lexington. Before his enlistment in the regular service he belonged to the Home Guards, but this did not satisfy his patriotic ideas. On his return home he rented a farm for a year, or until he could get a fair start, but since that time has owned his own homestead.

May 10, 1865, Mr. King was married to Miss Mary Howard, who was born in Benton County, Mo., May 10, 1849. She died May 1, 1867, leaving one child, Mary E., who is now the wife of T. C. Pinkerton, a well known agriculturist of Johnson County, Kan. September 23, 1869, Mr. King was united in marriage with Elizabeth A., daughter of H. C. Key. She was born December 27, 1848, and became the mother of five children, namely: Charles C., Myrtle M., Delia A., Eva E. and Alpheus B. The last-named was the eldest of the family, and died in early childhood, September 11, 1870. Mrs. Elizabeth King was called to the better land October 7, 1882. The present wife of our subject was formerly Melissa Horn, and their union was celebrated December 20, 1883. She was born in Greene County, Mo., and is a daughter of Joshua Horn. By this marriage our subject has one son, Seth M.

The paternal grandparents of our subject were Peter and Susan King, the former of whom died in eastern Tennessee. The latter came with her sons to Missouri and lived to an extreme old age, her death occurring during the war. Like his father before him, John B. King uses his ballot in favor of the Democratic party. He and his wife are members of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church at Holden, and for about fifteen years Mr. King has served as an Elder in the congregation, besides being very prominent in Sunday-school work.