My Genealogy Hound

Below is a family biography included in Biographical and Historical Memoirs of Miller County, Arkansas published by Goodspeed Publishing Company in 1890.  These biographies are valuable for genealogy research in discovering missing ancestors or filling in the details of a family tree. Family biographies often include far more information than can be found in a census record or obituary.  Details will vary with each biography but will often include the date and place of birth, parent names including mothers' maiden name, name of wife including maiden name, her parents' names, name of children (including spouses if married), former places of residence, occupation details, military service, church and social organization affiliations, and more.  There are often ancestry details included that cannot be found in any other type of genealogical record.

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Henry H. King is a native-born resident of Miller County, and first opened his eyes to this world on October 30, 1841. His father, George W. King, was born in Tennessee in 1810, and at the age of nineteen came to Arkansas, locating in Miller County (but which was then considered to be a part of Red River County, Tex.), and was one of the first settlers in this part of the State. Here he was united in marriage with Miss Lucy Amanda Loyd, a native of Ohio, who had accompanied her parents to this State in early life. Her father was the first settler on what is now known as Lost Prairie, and died in this State in 1882, in his seventieth year. Upon first coming to Arkansas, George W. King was engaged in keel-boating on the Red River, and continued in that occupation for ten years, but at the end of that time turned his attention to agricultural pursuits, which he conducted until his death on February 16, 1859. When Texas rebelled, he volunteered and fought for that State. Prior to 1843 he was in the grocery business on the banks of the Red River, but a rise of that stream swept away all his possessions. Politically he was a Whig, and both he and wife were very active in church work, both being members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South. To their marriage were born thirteen children, the subject of this sketch being the third in order of birth, seven of whom survive. The school days of Henry H. King were spent in his native county with no unusual events, until he had attained his twentieth year. It was then the late war broke out, and on May 5, 1861, he volunteered in Capt. Dill’s company, Sixth Arkansas Confederate Infantry, going out as private, and serving until the close of the war, or until October 22, 1865. During the latter part of the service, he was appointed to a lieutenancy on post duty in Macon, Ga., a short time. While in the ranks he was in the battles of Murfreesboro, Shiloh, Corinth, Perryville, Chickamauga, Missionary Ridge, the Georgia campaign, and Jonesboro, N. C, also Jonesboro, Ga. At this latter battle, he was wounded by a gun-shot in the left thigh, and was sent to the hospital at Raleigh, N. C., where he remained until September, 1865. During his service he was struck four different times with bullets, but was only disabled once. In September, 1864, he was detailed to serve in the secret service, where he did duty for about four months, after which he returned to his home, to find his mother and family in almost destitute circumstances. He himself was penniless and a cripple, but he set to work, first hiring out for wages, in which capacity he continued until 1869. He then rented land and commenced to farm for himself, and by ability and good management he made money at it, and in 1874 was able to purchase 240 acres of land, on which he is now living. A good portion of this land is under a high state of cultivation, and is profitably tilled by its owner. In 1876 he was elected justice of the peace, and after ably filling that office for two years he was reelected. He was also elected county coroner in 1878. His marriage to Miss Amanda Clementine Eckles, a native of Alabama, born in 1850, the daughter of Clark Eckles, was consummated in 1870, and five of the eight children born to them are still living. They are: Hester A. (wife of J. D. Finley, a farmer of this county), Henry A., Benjamin Franklin, Minnie and Paul, all at home. Those dead are: Ardella (who died at the age of nine years), Mary E. (died in her fourth year), and Joshua (who died when three years of age). Mr. King is a deacon in the Missionary Baptist Church, of which both he and wife are earnest members. In politics he always votes the Democratic ticket, and socially is a Mason and belongs to the Alliance. He is an enterprising and honorable citizen, and deserves the success which has followed him through life.

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