RICHARD E. KING.
Richard E. King, farmer of Oak Mills, Walnut township, Atchison county, was born in this county, January 11, 1876. He was a son of Richard M. King, pioneer, farmer, merchant and early-day freighter, who was born in Smith county, Tennessee, January 23, 1837. Richard M. was a son of Abraham and Mahaley (James) King, natives of Virginia, who came to Tennessee in 1833. They migrated from Tennessee to Buchanan county, Missouri, in 1851, and one year later moved to a farm in Platte county, Missouri, where Abraham King and his wife eventually died. Richard M. King crossed the plains with a freighting outfit which started from Ft. Leavenworth en route Ft. Laramie in Wyoming, and met with considerable adventure on the long trip, which consumed ninety days going and returning. The Indians molested them frequently, and one time a mischievous band stole all the tongue pins from their wagons. Another time, when they were in camp, a band of hundreds of Pawnees swarmed around the train and tried to intimidate the men. One big Pawnee buck, uttering a loud “woof,” stuck a spear in Mr. King’s stomach. On account of the Indian force being of superior number to the whites, they did not dare take offense at anything they did, or seem offended at any of their pranks for fear of massacre. Richard M. King followed freighting four years and made his last trip to the far West in 1862, from Ft. Leavenworth, Kan., to Ft. Union, N. M. He came back from this trip, and with his savings bought a tract of land on the Missouri river in Walnut township. Unhappily, this land was eventually cut off from the mainland by the freakish Missouri, when it once more changed its course, and, although the deed to the land is still held by Richard M. King the muddy waters of the Missouri flow over it. In 1866 he bought forty acres of land in the hills, back from the river. He was married November 22, 1863, to Mary Frances Hottle, a daughter of David and Frances (Creal) Hottle, both of whom were natives of Brook county, Virginia. They too, came to Kansas in the early days, and settled in Leavenworth county, in 1855. David Hottle was a butcher by trade and bought and killed the first beef ever slaughtered in the historic town of Kickapoo, Leavenworth county. Kickapoo was a hotbed of the pro-slavery element in those days and woe betide the man who opposed their wishes. Two children were born to Richard M. King and wife: Lucy Ann, born August 27, 1864, deceased wife of Thomas Reagan, a passenger conductor on the Missouri Pacific railway. To Mr. and Mrs. Reagan were born two children, Thomas D., born March 8, 1889, and John M., born August 7, 1905; Richard E., the subject of this review.
Richard E. King grew to manhood on the home farm and was educated in the common schools of his native county and the high school at Kansas City, Kan. He was married in 1895 to Mary Sacks, a daughter of Henry Sacks, of Atchison county. She died in 1898, and after her death, Mr. King went to Kansas City, Kan., to reside and was there engaged in various pursuits. He married Miss Sue Allen in Kansas City, Kan., January 16, 1900. Mrs. King is a daughter of James T. and Jane (McCampbell) Allen, both natives of Woodford county, Kentucky, whose people removed from the ancestral home of the family in Virginia to Kentucky. The old Allen homestead, built of natural stone is still standing in the latter State, a picturesque and beautiful reminder of ante-bellum days. In 1885 James T. Allen and family left Kentucky and went to Cass county, Missouri, where they resided on a farm until 1903, and then removed to Harrisonville, Mo., where they now live. One child has been born to Mr. and Mrs. Richard E. King, Richard Allen King, born July 12, 1903, a bright and intelligent boy and is an excellent student in school.
The King home, situated on a bluff overlooking the reaches of the old Missouri river, is noted for its hospitality and good cheer. Their home has been named “Che-me-o-kah,” a Kaw Indian term, meaning “Lodge of the Rising Sun,” or “Sunrise Cottage.” The Kaw Indians had a village on this farm in ancient times. Mr. and Mrs. King are a fine young couple who are highly esteemed by all who know them. Mrs. Richard M. King has one of the most remarkable collections of family heirlooms in Kansas.