John H. King Biography


	This biography appears on pages 1117-1118 in "History of South 
	Dakota" by Doane Robinson, Vol. II (1904) and was scanned, 
	OCRed and edited by Maurice Krueger, mkrueger@iw.net.

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	JOHN H. KING, one of the honored pioneers of Codington county, 
being now one of the prominent citizens of Watertown, was born in Troy, 
New York, on the 19th of January, 1850, and is a son of Michael and 
Catherine (Holland) King, both of whom were born in Ireland. The father 
of the subject was a wheelwright by trade, but was for many years 
engaged in mercantile pursuits in the city of Troy, being one of the 
prominent and public-spirited citizens of the place and one who 
commanded unqualified esteem in the community. There both he and his 
wife continued to reside until their death. They became the parents of 
two sons and three daughters, and of the number one of the sons and one 
of the daughters are now deceased. 

	The subject was reared to maturity in his native place, and there 
received the advantages of the public schools and also of a preparatory 
collegiate institution, in which he continued his studies until he had 
attained the age of twenty years. As a young man he there engaged in the 
buying and shipping of country produce, in which line of enterprise he 
met with excellent success. In 1882 he came to South Dakota and took up 
government land in what is now Eden township, in the western part of 
Codington county, and there developed a valuable farm, continuing to 
devote his attention to agriculture and stock raising until 1893, having 
in the meanwhile become the owner of a fine landed estate of nine 
hundred acres. In the year mentioned he sold four hundred acres and 
removed to Watertown, where he has since been prominently engaged in the 
real-estate business, owning a considerable amount of residence 
property, as well as farming lands in various parts of the county, while 
he also controls many properties which he handles for others. In 
September, 1904, in company with B. H. Cartford, he purchased a general 
store at South Shore and to this has since devoted his attention, 
enjoying a lucrative and satisfactory trade. In politics he is a staunch 
advocate of the principles of the Democratic party, and has long taken 
an active part in forwarding its cause in his county. He was justice of 
the peace in Eden township from its organization until he removed from 
it. In 1890 he was elected to represent his county in the state 
legislature, in which he served one term, during the third session, 
while he has also held various school offices, doing all in his power to 
advance the interests of popular education. At the time of his locating 
in Eden township there were but four other families settled within its 
borders. He was among the number who assisted in adopting the name of 
the township, and had the privilege of bearing the result of the 
selection to the county seat. He assisted in the erection of the first 
schoolhouse in the township, and in all other matters proved himself 
progressive and public-spirited, while he has at all times commanded the 
unqualified esteem of the people of the county in which he has so long 
maintained his home. He and his wife are members of the Catholic church, 
and fraternally he is identified with the Ancient Order of United 
Workmen. 

	On the 17th of March, 1877, Mr. King was married to Miss Anna 
Nisbet, of Lee, New York, where she was reared and educated, being a 
daughter of William and Catherine (Cox) Nisbet, both of whom were born 
in the state of Massachusetts. Mr. and Mrs. King have six children, 
concerning whom we offer the following brief data in conclusion of this 
sketch: Lillian M. is the wife of Frederick H. Elfring, of Watertown, 
and the other children still remain beneath the home roof, their names, 
in order of birth, being as follows: Nora, Katherine, C. Stanley, 
Frances C. and A. Iona.