John H. King

JOHN H. KING. The family of which John H. King, of Greensburg, is a representative, is one which has long been resident in this country. His great-grandfather was a native of the United States and was the father of John King, who was born in Somerset county where he followed the calling of a farmer. His political influence was given to the Whigs, and he was a prominent member of the Methodist Episcopal church. He married Elizabeth, daughter of Michael Noff, a Somerset county farmer of German descent, and they were the parents of a daughter and two sons, one of whom, David J., is mentioned hereafter. Mr. King died in 1839. 

David J. King,son of John and Elizabeth (Noff) King, was born November 6, 1820, at Confluence, Somerset county, where he was educated in the subscription schools. At the age of eighteen he went to Westmoreland county and settled near Mount Pleasant. He devoted himself to agricultural pursuits, and was active as a citizen, filling the offices of tax collector, assessor and school director, Until 1863 he was a Republican, but in that year joined the Democratic party to which he adhered during remainder of his life. He was a deacon in the Presbyterian church. He married Mary Ann Simpson whose great-grandfather, Thomas Simpson, came from Holland in 1736 and settled in Indianatown, Indiana county. About 1775 he moved to Westmoreland county, where, in 1780, he built a house near Mount pleasant which is still standing and has always remained in the possession of the family. He served in the Continental army during the Revolutionary war, and his son, William Simpson, was the father of a daughter, Mary Ann, who was born in 1823, near Mount Pleasant, and became the wife of David J. King, as mentioned above. The family is closely related to that of General Ulysses S. Grant. The following children were born to Mr. and Mrs. David J. King : Rebecca, married David Music ; William S. ; John H., of whom later ; David Blennett ; Fannie, married Joseph W. Stoner ; Theodore ; Theophilus ; Byron W. ; Frank A. ; and Maryetta. Mr. King died in Westmoreland county in 1893, and his wife, Mary A., died August 7, 1905, aged eighty-two years. 

John H. King, son of David J. and Mary Ann (Simpson) King, was born December 29, 1849, in Mount Pleasant, where he received his preparatory education in the public schools, afterward entering Duff College, Pittsburg. On completing his education he devoted himself for four years to the profession of teaching, and then engaged in mercantile business at New Stanton. At the end of eight years he sold his store and became a manager of a large flouring mill, a position which he retained for ten years,and was then forced to resign on account of his health. He moved to Greensburg where he has since been engaged in business as a general contractor. He was chosen in 1903, to fill the office of tax collector. He belongs to the R. A., and the K. M. His political views and principles are those of the Republican party, and he is a member of the German Reformed church. He married, in 1878, Lizzie M., born March 1, 1849, in West Overton, Westmoreland county, daughter of Frederick S. and Sally (Ingalls) Hunker, and their children were : Harry Earl, born March 1, 1885 ; died March 9, 1885 ; and Charles F., born April 2, 1889. 

Source Pages 56 & 57 History of Westmoreland County, Volume II, Pennsylvania by John N. Boucher. New York, The Lewis Publishing Company, 1906 
Transcribed December 31, 1999 by Marilynn Wienke for the Westmoreland County History Project 
Contributed for use by the Westmoreland County Genealogy Project (http://www.pa-roots.com/westmoreland/)

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