Randolph County, West Virginia         Biography of OWEN J. KING

This biography was submitted by Valerie Crook,
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The History of West Virginia, Old and New
Published 1923, The American Historical Society, Inc.,
Chicago and New York, Volume III,
pg. 561-562
Randolph

OWEN J. KING, who has served two terms as postmaster
of Elkins, began his business career in that city before it
was the county seat of Randolph County, and has had an
increasingly active part in local affairs ever since.

He was born on a farm near Kingsville in Randolph
County, August 29, 1871, son of John A. and Mary (O'Con-
nor) King. John A. King was born in Ireland and was
six years of age when his parents, Michael and Bridget
(Mounigan) King, came to this country. Michael King
was in railroad construction work and finally located on a
farm in Randolph County, and the adjacent village of
Kingsville was named in his honor. John A. King served
as a teamster in the Union Army during the Civil war, and
after the war became a farmer and spent his active life at
that vocation. His wife, Mary O'Connor, was born at Phil-
adelphia, and her father, Michael O'Connor, was a native
of Ireland. John A. King and wife were devout Catholics.
and they reared thirteen children on their farm, eleven of
whom are still living.

Owen J. King spent his boyhood on the farm and had the
advantages of the common schools. At the age of eighteen
he started making his own way, and he has made a success
without any inheritance of money and has not only pulled
his own weight in the world, but has done much to help
others. He was in business at Elkins as a merchant for
twelve years. After selling his store he entered the real
estate and insurance business, and carried that line of ac-
tivities for eight years.

He is an active democrat, and in 1914 President Wilson
appointed him postmaster of Elkins. He was re-appointed
for a second term, and throughout his administration he
gave the utmost satisfaction to the patrons of the office.
Mr. King is a Catholic and is affiliated with the Knights
of Columbus and Elks. In 1904 he married Miss Gertrude
Collins, of Logansport, Indiana. Their three children are
Madaline, Mildred and Clarence C.