My Genealogy Hound

Below is a family biography included in Biographical and Historical Memoirs of Phillips County, Arkansas published by Goodspeed Publishing Company in 1890.  These biographies are valuable for genealogy research in discovering missing ancestors or filling in the details of a family tree. Family biographies often include far more information than can be found in a census record or obituary.  Details will vary with each biography but will often include the date and place of birth, parent names including mothers' maiden name, name of wife including maiden name, her parents' names, name of children (including spouses if married), former places of residence, occupation details, military service, church and social organization affiliations, and more.  There are often ancestry details included that cannot be found in any other type of genealogical record.

* * * *

Hon. S. H. King, farmer and stock raiser, Poplar Grove, Ark. The King family is a very old and prominent one, and is of Scotch origin. The first to come to this country were Richard King and wife, who made their appearance here as early as 1700. They located in Philadelphia, then a small village, and here the wife died. In 1735 Samuel married Miss Margaret Barclay, of Dutch parentage, and from this honored couple the King family of the present day are descendants. He and wife were the parents of twelve children. He died in May, 1782, at the age of eighty-two years. His son, James King (the great-grandfather of our subject), was born in 1737, in New Jersey, whither his father had moved. He married Miss Sarah Hall, in 1765, in North Carolina, and they became the parents of nine children, Andrew King being their youngest son, and the grandfather of our subject. He died in 1852, at the age of seventy-four years. His son, Thomas S. N. King (the father of our subject), was born in North Carolina, in 1804, and was married in 1832, to Miss J. F. Smith, a native of Georgia, who bore him seven children, all of whom lived to be grown: Porter B. (deceased, family resides in Benton County, Ark.), Ella S. (widow of W. H. Trader, and now resides in Washington, D. C.), W. B. (resides in Madison Parish, La., engaged in farming), S. H., Elizabeth N. (deceased), Fannie S. (deceased) and Laura J. (deceased, wife of Henry W. Scull, of Pine Bluff, Ark.). Mrs. King died in 1886, at the age of seventy-two years, after a long and eventful life. Thomas S. N. King had previously been married to Miss Margaret Battle, who only lived a short time afterward. He was a minister in the Baptist Church, and was also a successful agriculturist. He moved to Mississippi in 1833, and was among the very first settlers of that State. In 1846 he moved to Arkansas, settled at Helena, this county, and was engaged in tilling the soil. He was the third Baptist minister in the county, and assisted in establishing the first three churches of that denomination there, these being New Hope, Beach Grove and Helena, which is now called the First Baptist Church of Helena. Mr. King moved to the country in 1849, and settled three miles south of Helena, where he engaged in farming, but still continued his ministerial duties. He was commissioner of schools in this county, and took a deep interest in educational matters. He died in 1869, at the age of sixty-four years. S. H. King first attended the subscription schools of Phillips County, and at the age of eighteen years entered the Union University of Murfreesboro, Tenn., where he remained three years, or until his twenty-first year. He then engaged as book-keeper for W. F. & J. T. Moore, of Helena, with whom he remained one year, and then, the war breaking out, he enlisted in the Confederate army, Gen. Cleburne’s old company (called the Yell Rifles) as a private, and was promoted to the rank of sergeant while with this company. At the end of one year he was appointed commissary, with the rank of major of Preston Smith’s brigade of Tennessee troops, being the first commissary that was appointed to that office with the rank of major. He had previously held the rank of captain while in the Tennessee army. Major King participated in many battles, prominent among them being Shiloh, Chickamauga, Richmond, Murfreesboro, Missionary Ridge, Atlanta, where he was wounded in both arms, and was slightly wounded in the lower part of the breast. After this he was in the battles of Franklin, Nashville, and was in the last battle fought by Gen. Joseph E. Johnston. He surrendered April 27, 1865, at Greensboro, N. C. May 16, 1865, he married Miss Sue Scaife, and in the fall of 1865 he came back to Phillips County, where he tilled the soil on rented land in a small way. In 1872 he purchased 160 acres of land, which he improved, and traded for the place on which he is now residing, then consisting of 160 acres. This he has since improved and added to, until he now owns 312 acres, with 160 acres under cultivation, and on which is a good steam cotton-gin. He gins yearly an average of 400 bales, and produces on his farm thirty-five bales yearly, together with hay, corn, etc. He is also quite a stockman, raising cattle and horses principally. Mr. and Mrs. King became the parents of two children: Lannie (wife of J. E. Davidson, resides in Marion Township) and W. F. (who resides in Cypress Township, and a teacher by profession). Mrs. King died in May, 1868, and in 1871 he chose for his second wife Miss Sallie Cook, daughter of James and Frances (Brooks) Cook. James Cook came to Phillips County in 1875. The paternal grandmother of Mrs. King was a Bragg, an aunt of Gen. Bragg, while the maternal grandfather Brooks was one of the family of Brooks, of South Carolina, and came from England. The mother was a Paine, and a relative of Bishop Paine. James Cook and wife were the parents of eight children, six now living: Roland (on the old homestead, near Barton), Sallie (wife of Mr. King), Susan E. (wife of E. A. Hicks, of Barton), Nannie, Jennie (wife of D. H. Crebs, of Helena) and Robert (of Poplar Grove). Mr. Cook died in 1872, and his wife in 1876. To the marriage of Mr. and Mrs. King were born five children: James P., W. C, Jennie, J. W. and A. F. In 1878 Mr. King was elected county treasurer, and served one term. In 1885 he was elected to the legislature from Phillips County, and served in that capacity in a highly creditable manner. He is a member of the K. of H., Marvell Lodge No. 1628, and he and Mrs. King are members of the Baptist Church. He is one of the most prominent citizens of the county, and has the confidence and respect of all.

* * * *

This family biography is one of 103 biographies included in Biographical and Historical Memoirs of Phillips County, Arkansas published in 1890.  For the complete description, click here: Phillips County, Arkansas History, Genealogy, and Maps

To view additional Phillips County, Arkansas family biographies, click here

Use the links at the top right of this page to search or browse thousands of other family biographies.