"Early History of Thurston County, Washington; Together with Biographies and
Reminiscences of those Identified with Pioneer Days." Compiled and Edited by
Mrs. George E. (Georgiana) Blankenship.  Published in Olympia, Washington, 1914.
p. 180.
 
WILLIAM D. KING

     The history of William D. King as related by his son, Charles D. King, is
but a repetition of the sturdy expression of the spirit of adventure which led
so many from comfortable homes in the Eastern States, to undergo the hardships
and privations of a frontier life.
      In 1852, William King left his young wife, Caroline, in their Michigan
home, and crossed the plains with the customary ox teams. Arriving in this
section, the summer was spent at Grand Mound Prairie, looking for a place of
permanent location.
      In the spring of 1853, Mr. King decided to take up a donation claim in
Cowlitz County, and selected a site just above the town of Kelso on the Cowlitz
River. For a couple of years Mr. King worked on his claim, subduing the
wilderness and building up a home for his young wife.
      Finally, in 1855, Mrs. King was sent for, to join her husband, and made
the trip to Washington by way of Panama, being among the first passengers to
travel on the railroad which had recently been built across the Isthmus. The
Kings continued to occupy their farm on the Cowlitz until the year 1863, and
during this time, in 1859, their son, Charles D. was born.
     During the time of the Indian war troubles, in 1855-56, Mr. and Mrs. King
and son were obliged to take refuge in the block house on the Cowlitz. It was
during their sojourn in this place of refuge that their second son, the late H.
S. King, was born.
     Neighbors of the King family in the fort were the Ostrander and the Catlin
families, whose names are among the best known of the pioneers of that section.
     Mr. King was the second auditor ever elected in Cowlitz County, which
office he held for several terms.
     In 1863, the family sold their donation claim and removed to Clackamas
County, Oregon, afterwards settling in Umatilla County, where they lived until
the time of Mr. King's death.  This latter event occurred while he was on a trip
to Michigan, where he had taken his younger son to place him in school, and was
caused by a railroad wreck.
    The son, Charles, then wandered forth in the world on his own
responsibility, leading the checkered career of a young man striving to educate
himself, and at the same time earn his living on the frontier. The lad drifted
to California, then to Winnemucca, Nevada, then on into Idaho, finally settling
for several years at Weiser City, in that Territory.
    It was at Winnemucca that he was admitted to practice law, and here, too, he
was living at the time of the Bannock and Nez Perce Indian wars. Mr. King was
one of the guard stationed outside that frontier town to give warning to the
citizens of the approach of the Indians who were ravaging the country in Idaho
and Nevada, terrorizing the settlers, and freighters, and even the inhabitants
of the smaller towns, who feared an attack. The tribes at one time joined forces
and numbered 2,000 warriors.
     The younger King, before practicing law, for a time, led a wild life as a
cowboy on the Idaho ranges, and during this time was participant in many
exciting adventures.
     In 1891, C. D. King came to Olympia, and began the practice of law. He
still continues to live in this city.
     His only brother, H. S. King, died in Olympia, in 1912.

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Submitted to the Washington Bios. Project in May 2007 by Diana Smith.
Submitter has no additional information about the person(s) or family mentioned
above.