William Calvin King, p. 43

WILLIAM CALVIN KING, cashier of the "National Bank of Claysville," and one of the prominent businessmen of the town, was born in Claysville, August 7, 1828.

His paternal grandfather was Courtlen King, a native of New Jersey, born October 13, 1766, who in early manhood was united in marriage with Jane Hankins, also a native of New Jersey, born in Trenton, , January 30, 1767. The children born to this union were John, Enoch, Absalom, William, Isaac, David, Elijah, Mary (Mrs William Higbee), Parmelia (Mrs William McElhaney), Lydia (Mrs William Estys), Elizabeth (Mrs John McCulloch) and Jane (Mrs Isaac Phillips). In 1805 he emigrated with his family west of the mountains and settled on a farm in Agllegheny county, Penn, about seven miles south of the then thriving city of Pittsburgh, where, honored and respected, he spent the remainder of his life in peaceful pursuits of the farm, and died December 25, 1826; his wife surviving him many years, died September 1, 1854. In religious belief they were Baptists of the strictest sect, and many of their descendants still abide in the faith of their fathers.

The grandfather (on the mother's side) was Gen James Stephenson, a native of eastern Pennsylvania, born July 25, 1755. Inheriting the patriotism of his forefathers, and while yet in his minority, he entered the Continental army and served with distinction throughout the Revolutonary war, at the close of which he settled in Donegal township, Washington county, having purchased a large tract of land, one and one half miles west of what is now the town of Claysville. On the part selected for the homestead he erected a large two story hewed log house, which still stands in a remarkably well-preserved condition, one of the very few remaining landmarks of over one hundred years ago, that time has not yet obliterated. In 1791 he was united in marriage with Katharine Bonar, who was born in Donegal township, November 7, 1766, and the children born of this union were: Margaret (Mrs Col Benjamin Anderson), John (died July 6, 1833), Ann (Mrs David Brownlee), Mary (Mrs John Barr), Elizabeth (died March 17, 1814), Katharine (Mrs William King, afterward Mrs James Dennison), and Nancy (Mrs Eddie Ramsey). Gen Stephenson was one of the most prominent and highly esteemed citizens of the county. For many years he held the position of justice of the peace, county surveyor, and representative in the State Legislature; he died in Harrisburg December 20, 1815, while attending a session of the house.

William King, father of William C King, was born in New Jersey February 12, 1800, and his early life was spent on his father's farm in Allegheny county, he receiving the common school education of that day. About the year 1824 or 1825 he associated himself in business with Messrs Josiah and Calvin Truesdell, who were then largely engaged in general merchandising, and were among the most prominent and enterprising citizens of the town of Claysville. On October 4. 1827, he was married to Katherine, daughter of Gen James Stephenson (then deceased), who was born November 3, 1804. By this union there was only one child, William C (the subject of this sketch). Their wedded life proved but a short one. His business required frequent trips to the neighboring state of Ohio, often in inclement seasons of the year, on one of which he was taken suddenly ill at Cambridge, Ohio, and after a brief illness there, died March 8, 1829, having lived a consistent Christian life, a member of the Baptist church; his wife being of Scotch-Irish descent, still held to the Presbyterian faith. She afterward remarried, her second husband being James Dennison, a native of eastern Virginia, and her children born by this marriage were: James, John, Elbridge, Jane and Henry, all of whom still survive her. By the death of her second husband, who died in Brownsville, Penna, March 16, 1852, she again became a widow, and in early summer following she removed back to the old "Stephenson homestead," from which she had been separated many years, and in which by inheritance she still retained an interest. She there, amid the scenes of her childhood days, spent the remainder of a useful life, and died October 7, 1889, an honored and respected example of Christian womanhood.

In his native town our subject spent his boyhood days, attending the common schools of the place until the age of fifteen years, which were the only advantage an education afforded him. On April 1, 1846, at the age of eighteen years, he apprenticed himself to Samuel D Rickey, for the term of three years, to learn the harness-making business, for which service he was to receive the munificent sum of $25 per annum, as well as his board. At the expiration of his term of service, he continued to work at his trade about three years, and in 1852 became associated with ML Stillwagen in the general merchandising business, which partnership continued two years. He then went to the assistance of his mother in the management of the old homestead farm, to which she had previously removed, and there remained two years. On January 10, 1855, he was united in marriage with Mary E Bell (daughter of David Bell, a lineal descendant of the Witherspoon family of Revolutionary fame), who was born in Abbottstown, York Co, Penna, January 17, 1836, and came to Claysville with her father's family in 1843. The children born to this union were: William C. Jr., Ella V., Mary Katherine, and Harry B. Of these, William C. Jr. married Miss Minnie Smith, a native of Wheeling, W.Va. and one child was born to them, a daughter named Mary Bell; Ella V. married Rev. O. T. Langfitt, a Presbyterian minister, and one child has been born to them, a son, Williaim King, they live in West Liberty, Iowa; Mary Katherine still resides at the old home; Harry B. graduated from Washington and Jefferson College in 1891, and is now attending Princeton Theological Seminary. Mrs. Mary E. King died August 18, 1888, aged fifty-two years. For the past thirty-five years she was an exemplary member of the Presbyterian Church of Claysville, having united under the early ministry of the late Rev. Dr. McCarroll. Kind and gentle in her ways, she won the love of esteen of all who knew her. She was a faithful and devoted wife, a loving affectionate mother, and the guiding star in the home circle; her daily life faithfully portraying that of true Christian womanhood.

On March 1, 1857, our subject entered the service of the old Hempfield Railroad, which at that time was only completed as far as Claysville. After serving in the several capacities of brakeman, conductor, fireman and locomotive engineer, he was on February 1, 1864, appointed station agent at Wheeling, W. Va., which duties eventually merged into those of general freight, passenger, and ticket agent, and paymaster. He followed the fortunes (or rather the misfortunes) of the Hempfield up until April 1, 1871, at which it passed into the hands of the Baltimore and Ohio Company and following in the wake of the old road, he entered the service of the Baltimore & Ohio, and was assigned to the position of Freight Revenue collector at Wheeling Station, which position he held until November 1, 1877, during which time millions of the company's money passed through his hands. On November 1, 1877 he was transferred to Washington, Penna. to take charge of the company's agency there, made vacant by the resignation of Mr. John Baird, in which position he remained until April 1, 1880, when he resigned to accept the cashiership of the National Bank of Claysville, then being organized in his native town. Thus ended his career of thirty-three years and one month of continuous railroad service, and with the remarkable record of never having failed to draw a full month's salary for twenty-six consecutive years.

Text taken from page 43 of:
Beers, J. H. and Co., Commemorative Biographical Record of Washington County, Pennsylvania (Chicago: J. H. Beers & Co., 1893).

Transcribed September 1997 by Martha Burns of Anaheim, CA as part of the Beers Project.
Published September 1997 on the Washington County, PA USGenWeb pages at http://www.chartiers.com/.

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