BIO: Benjamin J. KING, York County, PA

Contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by Abby Bowman

Copyright 2005.  All rights reserved.
http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm
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History of York County, Pennsylvania.  John Gibson, historical editor.
Chicago: F. A. Battey Publishing Co., 1886.
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Part II, Biographical Sketches, York Borough, Pg 28

BENJAMIN J. KING was born in Spring Garden Township, September 25, 1839, a son 
of Henry and Leah (Johnston) King, natives of York County, Penn.  He was brought 
up in York, and educated at the York County Academy, and Bland's school on the 
Plank Road.  When fifteen years old he began clerking in a drug store, which he 
continued two years, then clerked in a dry goods store two years, and afterward 
followed the trade of house painting until the breaking out of the war.  April 
19, 1861, he enlisted at York, Penn., in Company A, Sixteenth Pennsylvania 
Volunteer Infantry, and served three months.  He re-enlisted on August 24, 1861, 
for three years, in Company E, Eighty-seventh Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry, 
and was honorably discharged on account of disability, April 10, 1863.  He 
entered the service as a sergeant and came out with that rank.  When he returned 
from the war he engaged in draying freight until April, 1883, and was transfer 
agent of the Peach Bottom, Pennsylvania & Northern Central Railroad for eleven 
years, when he sold his business to the Northern Central Railroad Transfer 
Company, when he began the bottling business, which he followed one year.  He 
then sold out and purchased the Violet Hill Hotel, one-half mile south of York, 
and moved there July 1, 1884, and kept hotel until April 1, 1885, when on 
account of sickness of his wife he moved to York, Penn.  Mr. King has leased his 
Violet Hill Hotel to Frank M. Egee for one year, with the privilege of five 
years.  Mr. King has moved to York, and leased his bottling works to Henry 
Weigee for one year, with the privilege of five, and is not engaged in any 
business at the present time.  Mr. King was married in York, Penn., April 23, 
1861, to Margaret J. Ilgenfritz, daughter of Thomas Ilgenfritz.  They have three 
children living:  Harry J., Lillie and Samuel J. T.  Mr. King is a member of the 
I. O. O. F. and Encampment.  He was one of the organizers of the city market, 
and is a stockholder in the York Opera House.