James King
History of Montana,by Joaquin Miller, 1894
USGENWEB Montana Archives
May be copied for non-profit purposes.

James King, one of Montana's earliest pioneers and one of her 
most successful and respected citizens, is a native of 
Morrisburg Canada where he was reared and educated. In 1851 he 
settled in Chicago, where he was for a time paymaster 
for the Illinois Central Railroad while it was building its 
line to Kankakee. After this he entered the employ of the 
wholesale dry-goods firm of Mills & Company, Chicago, with 
which he remained until 1858, becoming thoroughly acquainted 
with the wholesale business. Severing his connection with that 
firm, he engaged in business on his own account in Galena,
Illinois where he continued successfully until 1862, when he 
removed to Montana.

Upon coming to Montana, Mr. King brought with him a stock of 
goods, making the journey up the Missouri River as far as 
Milk River and from there transferring to Fort Benton with mule 
teams and wagons. There was then a camp of about forty 
people at Prickly Pear (now Montana City) and there Mr. King 
opened some of his goods and conducted a store for about 
two months. Then he moved to Deer Lodge. He built the first 
store in Deer Lodge and under the firm name of King and 
Gillette he engaged in business. January 1, 1863 Mr. King hired 
an Indian to pilot him to Salt Lake City and from there
by stage he returned East. In the meantime they had removed 
their store to Bannack City. He purchased goods in the East
and in the spring returned to Montana and started a store at 
Virginia City, the first in that place. The boat on which 
he brought his goods came no further up the river than Snake 
Point and Mr. King took a contract to bring all its cargo 
to Virginia City, at thirty-five cents per pound. He continued 
this freighting in addition to his mercantile business 
for a number of years, and did a very large and paying business 
in both. In 1865 he opened his mercantile establishment
in Helena, and for many years he was one of the largest and most 
successful wholesale dealers in general merchandise 
in Montana. In the winter of 1864-65 he returned East again, 
buying goods and brought back a large stock in the spring.

From his arrival in Montana, Mr. King became one of the most 
prominent factors in her development. He built the toll 
road from Virginia City to Helena and also the toll road to 
Prickly Pear canon, the length of the latter being sixteen 
miles and costing $60,000 in gold. These roads were a great 
necessity and proved of inestimable value at that time. He
obtained his charter from the first legislature assembled at 
Bannack City. The toll on the road for the round trip with
oxen and wagon was $15.00 and the road paid $35,000 in one 
season. After keeping up the Virginia City road until 1867
or '68 he sold it for $25,000.

It was with the rush in the summer of 1865 that Mr. King came 
to Helena. In a short time a thriving little town was 
started, and from the very first Mr. King has been identified 
with its development. He built the first business block 
in the city, opposite where the Cosmopolitan Hotel now stands. 
As the place improved he became largely interested in 
real estate and also in placer mining and in 1872 he retired 
from the mercantile business in order to give his 
attention to his other varied interests. In Confederate Gulch 
he has for many years conducted large placer mining 
operations. In the early days his firm employed as many as 
fifty men, paying $8 a day for eight hours' work. In this
way they spent $125,000 in getting to bed rock. They had for 
some time a five-foot flume and later a seven-foot one.
Their ground and improvements cost in the neighborhood of 
$290,000. These mines have been operated for many years 
and are still yielding large qualities of gold.

Mr. King also has large land and water interests in Montana, he 
being president of the Castle Land Company. Their town
site is in Meagher County and is adjacent to a large number of 
valuable mines that are in active operation. Here the 
company is making many improvements, putting in water works 
and electric lights and all other modern improvements. 
The town has now about 2,000 inhabitants. Railroads are being 
built to it, and with the present outlook it promises to
be the Leadville of Montana. He is also interested in various 
other corporations. Mr. King was instrumental in 
establishing the first mail route in the Territory; he helped 
to organize and was the first president of the Montana 
Fair Association; and he was also on of the founders of the 
first library in Helena, out of which has grown the 
present extensive Helena Public Library.
 
In 1858 Mr. King was married to Eliza M. Lunn, a native of 
Illinois. Her father, William Lunn, was born in England. 
Mr. and Mrs. King have four children, namely, Walter J., 
Warren C., Benjamin E. and Laura B. Mrs. King died, in
Chicago, in 1876, survived by her husband and children.

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