NJGenWeb ~ Morris County, New Jersey

Source: History Morris County New Jersey, Volume II, Lewis Publishing Co., 1914

The KING family is of English lineage and the founder of this branch of the name in America settled in New Jersey in the year 1769. The paternal great-grandfather of Charles Isaac KING was Constant Victor KING, a native of this State and an early pioneer in Jamestown, New Jersey. He was a farmer by vocation and for many years lived in the vicinity of Chester, where his demise occurred and where his remains are interred. His son, John H. KING, was born and reared in Chester and there received a common school education, after which he learned the trade of carpenter. He worked for a number of years as a builder but when death called him from the scene of his mortal endeavors he was engaged in farming near Chester. The maiden name of his wife was Hulda HORTON. She was a native of Morris county and she bore her husband nine children, all of whom are now deceased.

Charles T. KING, son of John H. and Hulda (HORTON) KING, was born in Chester, New Jersey, October 6, 1823. He was reared a farmer and followed that vocation on a finely improved estate in the vicinity of Succasunna during the greater part of his active career. His demise occurred April 13, 1905, at the age of eighty-two years. He married Catherine McDOUGAL, a daughter of Walter and Clarissa (STARK) McDOUGAL, the former of whom was of Scotch ancestry. Walter McDOUGAL was born in Wheeling, West Virginia, and removed thence to Morris county, this State, as a mere boy, locating at Flanders. He died at Kenvil in the year 1877, and his cherished and devoted wife preceded him to the life eternal. They were the parents of eleven children, all of whom grew to adult age and but one of whom is living at the present time, namely: Alfred McDOUGAL, who has for some years past been a resident of Janesville, Wisconsin. Mr. and Mrs. Charles T. KING had four children - two sons and two daughters; Julia Esther and Amanda, both died in childhood; John W., born in 1866, maintains his home and business headquarters in Newark, New Jersey, where he has gained a competency as a contractor and builder, married Iantha HARLE; Charles I., the immediate subject of this sketch.

Charles I. KING was born on a farm near Succasunna, Morris county, New Jersey, August 13, 1869. He passed his boyhood and youth on the parental homestead and attended the neighboring district schools. For one year he was a student in a private school in Dover and at the age of seventeen years he entered upon an apprenticeship, under Wright DeCOSTER, to learn the trade of carpenter. One year and a half later he began to assist his brother, John W., three years his senior, in the work of building and they were associated in carpenter work for the ensuing ten years. Charles I. KING has followed this line of enterprise for the past twenty-six years and during all that time has been a resident of Succasunna. As a carpenter and builder he has won marked success and many fine residences and business building in Morris county stand as monuments of his dexterity. As a business man he exercises good judgement and he is noted for his painstaking and strictly reliable work.

Politically, Mr. KING is a staunch adherent of Democratic principles. For nine years he served as township Democratic committeeman and he has also been the popular and efficient incumbent of the office of township clerk. He has always taken an active part in local politics and gives his earnest support to every measure tending to better the progress and improvement of his home community. He is a great admirer of President Woodrow WILSON. In a fraternal way he is connected with Acacia Lodge, No. 20, F. and A.M., and in the Scottish Rite branch of Masonry he has reached the thirty-second degree. He is likewise affliliated with Succasunna Council, J.O.U.A.M.; with the I.O.O.F.; and with the R.A. His religious faith coincides with the teachings of the Methodist Episcopal church.

March 24, 1896, Mr. KING married Emma A. PARKS, daughter of Philip and Janetta (CLOUSE) PARKS, both of whom were born and reared in German Valley, New Jersey, and the former of whom is now deceased. Mrs. PARKS lives at Succasunna. Mr. and Mrs. KING have two children: Alden Parks, born 1899; Lulu Farrow, born 1907. The KING family resides in an attractive home in Succasunna, the same being located on beautiful grounds.

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