KING: First, William, of Hollywood, Big Sandy; second, John, of Ashley Camp, Left Hand -- two brothers, Virginians.
William King was born in Virginia; married a Miss Mary Hamilton, and first lived in Pike County, Kentucky, where their only child, Nancy, was born, November 24, 1834. These three came to upper Bg Sandy about the year 1835; settled on Hollywood, where Mary (Hamilton) King died in the year 1837; William died April 22, 1855.
Nancy, this only daughter, married James Keen, on September 20, 1849. She appears to have been her fathers housekeeper for twelve years; she and her husband made their home there on Hollywood where they reared a family and there both died and were buried.Turn to the family name, "Keen."
John King, second of above Kings, was born in Washington County, Pennsylvania, January 4, 1797, says his youngest son Lewis Frank in a biography he gave Hardesty in the year 1883. Many older persons acquainted with John and his brother William say, That may be true, but they certainly lived many years in Russell County, Virginia, and in Pike County, Kentucky,. John came to Big Sandy a few years later than his brother William. In Virginia or Pike County, Kentucky, John had united in marriage with Margaret Charles, and to them were born, likely in Pike County, two sons and four daughters, all of whom came with the father here to Sandy, but the mother, Margaret, for some unexplained reason, never came.
The names of those sons and daughters of John and Margaret (Charles) King, in order of their ages, as recollected by Charles B. Ferrell, son of one of those daughters, are as follows: David, Jennie, George, Elizabeth, Margaret and Nancy.
The daughters of this family were mistresses of the household of their father, John King, until about the year 1860, when John brought home a second wife, her name, Juliann, born April 1, 1835. To John and Juliann, his wife, was born a son whom they named Lewis Franklin, and a daughter, Mary A., who married Vincent A. Ledsome, September 17, 1883.
All the children of John King married, and made homes in Geary or Smithfield Districts; all were ambitious to have and to hold largely; there were no tinkers, potters nor professional men in this second generation. For further of the careers of these daughters, see the family names of their husbands in this Chapter.
As to the sons we can write further, that,
David B. King, son of the above ancestor John, married Sudna West, January 1, 1859. They settled on Dog Creek and there raised a family, the names of individuals of which we do not have, and nothing further, except that there are several Kings residents of Big Sandy, most of whom are important citizens. David S., nor any of his descendants, subscribed for a book and made a record of his family as did his brothers son, Win. R., of whom we write next.
Jennie, daughter of John, Sr., married Aaron Bishop, of Flat Fork, Poca, at that time; Elizabeth married William Noe, Sr., first of the name on Big Sandy; Margaret remained in Pike County and was mother of Captain Win. Justice of Left Hand; Nancy married John Ferrell of Smithfield District.
George, born in Pike County, Kentucky, married Priscilla Drake, daughter of ______ Drake, one of the earliest settlers on Big Sandy; George and Priscilla settled on a large tract of land, on Canoe of Henrys Fork. Their sons and daughters born and reared there were: William Rufus, born December 10, 1853; John M., born 1859.
William Rufus King, son of George and Priscilla (Drake) King, was born on Henrys Fork, December 10, 1853; there married Lovernia Starcher, born there February 15, 1858, the daughter of Josiah P. and Nancy J. (Nichols) Starcher. They began their careers on a large tract of land on Dog Creek, where they made in time a large cattle farm, and reared a family; their names and marriages with ages are as follows:
George W., married Pruda Carper, February 14, 1904; his age, 22; her age, 16.
Joseph P., married Sallie W. Carper, February 8, 1903; his age, 21; her age, 18. Both were daughters of Shelton V. Carper.
Cassie, married French Trout, son of Oscar, on September 17, 1911; "his age, 25; her age, 22."
Mabel M., married Harley Ross, son of Spurgeon, son of Davidson Ross, early settler on Hollywood; this marriage was on April 18, 1914; "his age, 22; her age, 19.|
William Rufus, Jr., married Mabel, daughter of Nathan Keen, son cf James Keen, pioneer, on February 12, 1913; "his age, 21; her age, 21."
Mary D., married Preston Helmic, "July 18, 1908; his age, 22; her age, 18;" and
Pearl, married Clay Reynolds, son of George W. Reynolds, of Virginia.
Source: History of Roane County, West Virginia, 1774-1927 William H. Bishop, Esq. p 573-575
Submitter: Sandy Spradling, November 28, 1999
