Will County IL Archives Biographies.....King, John P 
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Deb Haines http://www.rootsweb.com/~archreg/vols/00003.html#0000719 February 2, 2008, 4:43 am

Author: Past & Present Will County, 1907

John P. King, extensively engaged in the lumber business in Joliet, owning and 
conducting two large yards, was born upon a farm near Terre Haute, Indiana, 
December 18, 1832. His father, Andrew King, a native of Louisville, Kentucky, 
was born in 1804 and died in 1849, while his wife, Margaret Bailey King, was 
born in Pennsylvania in 1807 and departed this life in 1877. After a residence 
of some years in Indiana the parents removed to Troy, Will county, Illinois, 
in 1834 and Andrew King here began farming. He had served as a soldier in the 
Black Hawk war in 1832 and he was an honored pioneer settler who bore a 
substantial part in the work of early development and improvement here. In the 
family were five sons and six daughters, of whom three sons are now living: 
Andrew J., a resident of Fairbury, Nebraska; Joseph, who is living at Sumas 
City, Washington; and John P. The sisters are Mrs. Julia A. Bishop, of Newark, 
New Jersey; and Mrs. Barbara A. Evans of Chicago. John P. King was not yet two 
years of age when brought by his parents to Will county and few indeed are the 
residents who have so long remained within its borders. He was reared amid the 
wild scenes and environments of pioneer life, sharing with the family in all 
the hardships and privations incident to settlement upon the frontier. He 
remained with his parents until nineteen years of age and attended school in 
Troy township. He then went to California, attracted by the discovery of gold, 
and made his way to the mining region of Trinity county. He engaged in mining 
for a time and for three years operated a stage line between Yreka and Red 
Bluffs. He also spent some time in Oregon and after a residence of twelve 
years upon the Pacific coast he again came to Will county, Illinois, settling 
in Joliet in 1864. For two years he did not engage in active business but in 
1866 established a lumberyard on the west side below the site of the Porter 
Brewery, where he continued for six years, when he removed the business to the 
present site at No. 214 North Desplaines street. This is the main office, 
although the company now operates another large lumberyard just east of the 
Citizens Brewery on the Michigan Central Railroad. The business has constantly 
grown in volume and importance since John P. King began operations in the 
lumber trade and has now reached such proportions that it is accounted one of 
the foremost commercial enterprises of the city. It is the oldest established 
continuous lumber business in Will county. Mr. King was married in 1867, in 
Joliet, to Miss Hannah Leonard, a daughter of Charles and Mary L. Leonard. Her 
father was one of Joliet's old settlers and a retired farmer. His death 
occurred in August, 1901, while his wife, Mary L. Leonard, died in August, 
1896. Unto Mr. and Mrs. King were born four children who are yet living and 
they lost one child, Laura, who died at two years. Those who still survive are 
as follows: Mrs. Lulu B. Puffer is a widow, her husband having died July 15, 
1892, and lives with her parents. For the past three years she has served as 
secretary and treasurer of her father's lumber company, while he has 
practically retired from active business. Mrs. Gertrude Leanard resides at No. 
501 Union street in Joliet. Harless W. is general manager of his fathers 
business. John W. resides in Birmingham, Alabama. The family are members of 
the Universalist church and Mr. King belongs to Mount Joliet lodge, No. 42, A. 
F. & A. M. He is a democrat, though liberal and served two terms as alderman 
from the seventh ward, being elected in a ward that is strongly republican. He 
also served six terms as supervisor of Joliet. He is a man of excellent 
business ability, whose well directed labors have brought him a measure of 
success whereby he is now numbered among the substantial residents of the 
county.

Additional Comments:
PAST AND PRESENT OF WILL COUNTY, ILLINOIS By W. W. Stevens President of the 
Will County Pioneers Association; Chicago: The S. J. Clarke Publishing 
Company, 1907

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