Martin
KING. There are few men more worthy of representation in a work of this
kind than the subject of this biography, who is now living upon a fine
farm on section 32, Magnolia township – the same place on which he first
opened his eyes to the light of day on the 15th of April, 1835. His
entire life has been passed in this locality, and those who know him
best are numbered among his staunchest friends.
Silas KING, his
father, was born in Kentucky in 1805, and was the son of Peter KING. He
accompanied the family to Indiana and later went to the lead mines of
Galena, from which he returned to Indiana, and there married Elizabeth
SHIELDS, a sister of Calvin SHIELDS. After making their home for a time
in Morgan county, that state, they removed to what is now Magnolia
township, Putnam county, where they remained but a short time, removing
to Roberts township, Marshall county, then a part of Putnam county, and
were among the first to locate in that township, making their home in
the edge of the timber. Until 1856 the father continued to improve and
cultivate that tract, when he removed to section 27, Evans township,
Marshall county, on a tract of raw land, which he broke and thereon
erected a house. The mother of our subject died in 1838, leaving three
children, the others being James C., now deceased, who married Mrs.
Rebecca KNICKERBOCKER, also now deceased, and Sarah, widow of Henry
GAGBY, by whom she had four children, Samuel P., James, Ida and Lizzie.
The father was again married, his second union being with Mrs. CONDIFF,
who is also now deceased, and they became the parents of three children,
all of whom have been called to their final rest. Eveline, who was the
wife of Selathial HALLAM, by whom she had two children, Emma Hotalling
and Eva Dial; Matilda, who was the wife of James BROWN, and William. Two
of the sons, James C. and William, were in the Union army during the
Civil war. The father was a member of the Methodist church, took
considerable interest in educational affairs and donated a log house for
a school building. He passed away in February, 1858.
Martin KING
was reared in Marshall county, receiving his education in the district
schools and early became familiar with the duties that fall to the lot
of the agriculturist. He continued upon the home farm until the death of
his father, and after his marriage he rented land for two years. The
next year was passed upon a small farm which he purchased in the timber,
and then for two years lived upon his father’s old farm in Evans
township. Being drafted for service in the Civil war, he had to sell his
land in order to pay his conscription. His next farm consisted of one
hundred and sixty acres lying east of Varna, for which he went in debt.
It was all raw land, but he at once began its development, erected
thereon a little shanty, and there made his home for twenty-four years,
during which time he made many valuable improvements, including a good
residence, barns and other outbuildings. Selling out to Jacob LENZ, he
removed to his present farm in 1889, and in the fall of 1895 erected his
comfortable residence. The place comprises three hundred and twenty
acres, and he also owns sixty-six acres in Roberts township, Marshall
county, and an interest in another farm in Magnolia township. He raises
a fine grade of stock in connection with his general farm work.
On
the 6th of October, 1859, Mr. KING led to the marriage altar Miss Ellen
A. SMITH, who was born on section 33, Magnolia township, July 31, 1840,
was there reared and was educated in the Caledonia school. They have
become the parents of nine children, as follows: Silas, now of Iowa, who
married Annie RUTAN, by whom he has four children, Harry, Myrtle,
Lawrence and Marion; Frank, also of Iowa, who married Jane RUTAN, by
whom he has two children, Ila and Dawson; Henry B., of Magnolia
township, who married Naomi NORRIS, by whom he has two children, Blanche
L. and Leonard C.; L. Benjamin, of Chicago; Laura E., wife of Grant
TRONE of Magnolia township, and the mother of two children, Florence M.
and Howard M., and Robert E., Hattie E., Annie Edith and Kate E., all at
home.
Ephraim SMITH, the father of Mrs. KING, was born in North
Carolina, in 1805, and a son of Philip and Elizabeth SMITH, who were
early settlers of Sangamon county, Illinois, where they passed their
last days. At the age of twenty-one, Ephraim left home, going to the
lead mines of Galena, and making the journey from Springfield to that
place with an ox team. It was in 1830 that he came to Putnam county, and
was numbered among the first settlers of Magnolia township, locating
upon section 33, where he made his permanent home. During the Black Hawk
war he served as a ranger.
Mr. Smith first wedded Harriet
Angeline TRUMAN, who was born in New York in 1817, and died in July,
1857. To them were born nine children – Ervin O., who married Annie
JOHNSON, and has two children; Mrs. KING; Franklin, who married Hattie
WEIR; Esther, deceased; Laura, wife of Casper WEBER; Hattie, wife of
Gilbert HILTABRAND; Addie and Artilissa, deceased, and James C., who is
also married. For his second wife Mr. SMITH chose Jemima KAYS, who still
survives him, and to them were born three children, the oldest of whom
died in infancy. The others are Katie R., wife of Vivian HAWS, and Eva,
wife of Cyril HAWS. The father died on the 10th of February, 1885, and
was buried in Magnolia cemetery. He was an honest, industrious farmer,
who attended strictly to his own affairs.
Socially, Mr. KING is a
member of the Masonic lodge at Varna, politically is a stalwart
democrat, and has served as road commissioner in Roberts township, and
school director for a number of years. Both himself and wife enjoy the
friendship and acquaintance of a large number of the best people of
Marshall and Putnam counties.
Extracted March 2011 by Norma Hass from The Biographical Record of Bureau, Marshall and Putnam Counties, Illinois, 1896.
Among the citizens of Putnam county who in former years were
actively identified with agricultural interests, but who are now
living retired, is classed Martin KING, who owns a well improved
and valuable farm of two hundred and forty acres, a part of
which is situated in Magnolia township and a portion in Roberts
township, which is now being operated by his son, although the
owner still continues his residence thereon.
Mr. KING was born upon his present farm April 15, 1835, the farm
being purchased by his paternal grandfather, James SHIELDS, in
1833, from a man who had entered it from the government. His
father, Silas KING, was born in Kentucky, in 1805, a son of
Peter KING. He accompanied his father's family on their removal
from the Blue Grass state to Indiana, where he remained for a
time, and later made his way to Galena, Illinois, where he
worked in the lead mines. He later returned to Indiana, where he
was united in marriage to Miss Eveline SHIELDS, and the young
couple then took up their abode in Morgan county, that state,
where they made their home for a time, and then made their way
to a farm in Roberts township, Marshall county, which at that
time was included in the district which now forms Putnam county,
the family being one of the first to locate in that township.
They lived in the same house with James Shields for a time. Mr.
KING was a valued factor in the pioneer development of this
portion of the state, making his home on different farms in the
two counties during a long period. His wife died in 1838,
leaving three children: Martin, of this review; James C., who
wedded Mrs. Rebecca KNICKERBOCKER, and both are now deceased;
and Sarah, the widow of Henry BAGBT, by whom she has four
children, Samuel P., James, Ida and Lizzie. The father was
married a second time to Mrs. CCUNDIFF, who is now deceased, and
by this marriage there were three children, but all of the
number have been called to their final rest: Eveline, who was
the wife of Selathial HALLAM, by whom she had two children; Emma
Hotalling and Eva Dial; Matilda, who was the wife of James
BROWN; and William. Two of the sons, James C. and William, were
loyal defenders of the Union cause during the Civil war. The
father was a member of the Methodist church and took
considerable interest in the educational affairs of his
community, and at one time donated a log house which was used
for a school building. His death occurred in February, 1898, and
thus passed away one of the highly esteemed and worthy pioneers
of this part of the state.
Martin KING was reared in Marshall county, where he received his
education in the district schools near his father's home. He
early became familiar with all the duties which fall to the lot
of the agriculturist, assisting his father in the operation of
the home place until the latter's death. Upon starting out in
life on his own responsibility he operated rented land for two
years, after which he purchased a small farm-, which was in a
wild state, and which he developed and cultivated for a time. He
then took up his abode on his father's old farm property in
Evans township, which he operated for the succeeding two years.
About that time the Civil war broke out and Mr. KING, being
drafted for service therein, was compelled to dispose of his
farm in order to pay his conscription. His next purchase of land
consisted of a tract of one hundred and sixty acres, lying east
of the village of Varna, for which he assumed an indebtedness.
It was wild and unimproved, but Mr. KING at once took up his
abode thereon and began to clear his land, after which he
planted his crops, and in due course of time gathered rich
harvests. He further improved his farm by the erection of
substantial buildings and in course of years replaced his
original home, which was a log shanty, by a more commodious
frame residence, and on this place he continued to make his home
for twenty-four years, having in the meantime made it a valuable
property, owing to the improvements which he had made. He
disposed of this property to Jacob Lenz and in 1889 removed to
his present farm, where he has since continued to make his home,
although he is now living in well earned ease, his farm being
operated by his son. Mr. KING was for many years engaged in
general agricultural pursuits and stock-raising and as he
prospered in his work and his financial resources were thereby
increased, he added to his possessions from time to time until
he was at one time the owner of three hundred and eighty-six
acres, but he has since disposed of a part of this, retaining
possession of two hundred and forty acres, situated on section
32, Magnolia township, and in addition to which he owns another
tract in this township, and a farm of sixty-six acres in Roberts
township, Marshall county, so that through his own well directed
labors and careful management of his business affairs he is now
enabled to lay aside the arduous duties of life and enjoy a well
merited rest.
On the 6th of October, 1859, Mr. KING chose as a companion and
helpmate for life's journey Miss Ellen A. SMITH, who was born on
section 33, Magnolia township, and was here reared, white her
education was acquired in the Caledonia school. Her father,
Ephraim SMITH, was a native of North Carolina, born in 1805,
being a son of Philip and Elizabeth SMITH, who were among the
early pioneer settlers of Sangamon county, Illinois, where they
both spent their remaining days. Ephraim SMITH remained under
the parental roof until he attained his majority, when he went
to Springfield, from which city he made his way with ox teams to
Galena, where he worked in the lead mines. In 1830 he became a
resident of Putnam county, settling on a farm on section 33,
Magnolia township, being numbered among the first settlers of
this township, where he made his home until his death, on the
10th of February, 1885, after which his remains were laid to
rest in Magnolia cemetery. He served as a ranger in the Black
Hawk war. He was first married to Harriet Angeline TRUMAN, who
was born in New York in 1817, and her death occurred in July,
1857, when she was forty years of age. By that union there were
nine children: Ervin O., who wedded Annie JOHNSON, by whom he
has two children; Ellen A., who became the wife of our subject;
Franklin, who wedded Hattie WEIR; Esther, deceased; Laura, the
wife of Casper WEBER; Hattie, the wife of Gilbert HILTABRAND;
Addie and Artilissa, both deceased; and James C. For his second
wife Mr. SMITH chose Jemima KAYS, now deceased, by whom he had
three children, of whom the eldest died in infancy, while the
others are: Katie E., the wife of Vivian HAWS ; and Eva, the
wife of Cyril HAWS.
The family of our subject and his wife numbered eleven children,
of whom eight are still living: Silas, a resident of Virginia;
Frank, a resident farmer of Magnolia township; Henry and
Benjamin, likewise residing in this township; Laura E., the wife
of Grant TRONE; Robert E., residing in North Dakota; Edith, the
wife of Ed DEFANBAUGH, residing in Magnolia; Kate E., the wife
of Oscar HIATT, residing in Toluca, Illinois; Hattie, the
deceased wife of George LIPPERT; and two who died in infancy.
The wife and mother passed away January 26, 1898. She was
devoted to the interests of her home and family and during the
forty-eight years which she and her husband traveled life's
journey together she proved to him a worthy companion and
helpmate.
In his political affiliations Mr. KING is a democrat, giving stanch support to the principles in which he so firmly believes. He has taken an active part in local politics, having served as road commissioner and as school director for a number of years, the cause of education finding in him a warm and helpful friend. Fraternally he is identified with the Masonic order at Varna and is popular among the brethren of the craft. Mr. KING has now passed the seventy-first milestone on life's journey, and, having spent his entire life in Putnam and Marshall counties, is well known and enjoys the friendship of a large circle of acquaintances. He has ever been known for his reliable and straightforward dealing in all trade transactions and is today accounted one of the venerable and well-to-do citizens of Putnam county.
Extracted July 2011 by Norma Hass from
Past and Present of Marshall and Putnam Counties
| Bureau | Putnam | |
| Stark |
 |
La Salle |
| Peoria | Woodford |
