James R. KING was born in SC or NC and lived in GA from at least 1834 to 1850 where he was married and had 5 sons and one daughter. After 1850, his wife (name unknown) presumably deceased, he moved to DeKalb County, AL and remarried in 1858. Anybody know about his time in GA and SC, or his family? Tom Butt Descendants of James R. King Generation No. 1 1. JAMES R.1 KING1 was born 1812 in SC or NC2,3. He married (1) UNK. He married (2) PARMELIA MATHENY4 November 30, 1858 in DeKalb County, AL5, daughter of MARY MCSPADDEN. Notes for JAMES R. KING: 1812 (ca) Born in SC. Source: Census records, DeKalb County, AL; 1860, 1880 ______________________ 1834 Living in GA and married. First son William F.)born. Source: DeKalb County, AL 1860 census. ______________________ 1836 Living in GA and married. Second son (Robert A.) born. Source: 1860 DeKalb County, AL census ______________________ 1840 Living in GA and married. Third son (Joseph W.) born. Source: 1860 DeKalb County, AL census ______________________ 1835 Living in GA and married. First daughter (Sarah C.) born. Source: 1860 DeKalb County, AL census ______________________ 1849 Living in GA and married. Fourth son (John W.) born. Source: 1860 DeKalb County, AL census ______________________ 1850 Living in GA and married. Fifth son (Robert A.) born. Source: 1860 DeKalb County, AL census ______________________ 1855. Permelia Stewart's second husband, Samuel Steart, dies. Source: Olive Stewart Gilbert ______________________ 1858 Marries Permelia Stewart in DeKalb County, AL. Source: DeKalb County Mariage Index. Index note says, "loose papers." No document available. ______________________ 1859. First son with Permelia (Lilburn Henderson) born. Source: Olive Stewart Gilbert In the 1850 census of the family of Samuel Stewart and Permelia (Matheny) the only Stewart child listed was Jasper, shown in that census as being two years old and in this 1860 census as 12. The other three boys listed above, Minos, Kingsbury and Samuel, appear for the first time in this 1860 census. It is known in the family that there was another Stewart brother, named Columbus. Since he does not appear in either the 1850 or 1860 census, it is apparent that he was born after the first census and died before the latter census. The legend is that he died in childhood, and the census bears this out. His birth date is not known. Jasper N. Stewart was born May 18, 1848; Minos R. Stewart was born January 4, 1852; Kingsbury Stewart's birth date not known; Samuel W. Stewart was born October 1, 1855. (Olive Stewart Gilbert) ______________________ 1860. The 1860 census shows Permelia married twice previously, first to a Mr. Williams, by whom she had two sons, Patrick and Parley. By 1860, these boys were not living at home. Her second marriage was to Olive Stewart Gilbert's grandfather, Samuel Stewart, and the four Stewart boys listed in the household are Samuel Stewart's full brothers. The 1860 census (shown below) includes the Stewart boys, sons of Samuel Stewart and Permelia (Matheny)(Williams), and their half-brother, Lilburn H. King. Samuel DeWorld Stewart, shown in this 1860 census as six years old, was born on October 1, 1855. Olive Stewrat Gilbert often heard him say that he was a post-humous child, as his father had died five months before he was born. This would put the date of death of Samuel Stewart, Sr., circa April-May of 1855. Lilburn H. King, my father's half brother, was the only child of the marriage of James R. King and Permelia (Matheny)(Williams)(Stewart) King. (Olive Stewart Gilbert). DeKalb County, AL, 1860 Census KING Occupation Age Acres Owned Birthplace James R. Farmer 48 1000-1200 SC Permelia 42 TN William F. Blacksmith 26 GA Robert A. 22 GA Joseph W. 20 GA John W. 11 GA James R. 10 GA Sarah C. 15 GA Jasper Stewart 12 AL Minos Stewart 10 AL Kingsbury Stewart 8 AL Samuel Stewart 6 AL Lilburn H. King 1 AL Neighbors included Cunninghams, Shankles, Birds, Wootens, Kings, Coleys (Croleys?) [1860 Census] ____________________________ 1870. In 1870, John N. ___ and Minus R. Stewart were renting from James and Permelia. (1870 census) __________________________ 1880. DeKalb County Census, Township 7, Range 9 269, 292 King, Permelia W F 61 Head Widowed Keeping boarding house TN AL TN Lilburn, H. W M 21 Son Single Farmer AL SC TN Stewart, Samuel W. W M 24 Son Single Teacher TN TN TN Notes for PARMELIA MATHENY: Permelia (Matheny)(Williams)(Stewart) King died at the home of her son, Samuel W. Stewart, Morrilton, AR, May 17/19, (circa) 1892. Burial, in K of H Cemetery, Morrilton, AR. (Gilbert, Olive Stewart) Can't read or write (1860 Census) __________________________________ 1880 DeKalb County Census, Page 36, Supv. District 1, Enumeration District 55, Township 7, Range 9, June 30, 1880. 249-292 King, Permelia, W(hite), F(emale), Head, Widowed, Keeping boarding house, Birthplace: TN, Father's birthplace: AL, Mother's birthplace: TN Children of JAMES KING and UNK are: i. WILLIAM F.2 KING6, b. 1834, GA. ii. ROBERT ANTHONY KING6,7,8, b. 1838, GA; m. (1) SALLY A. CUNNINGHAM9,10; m. (2) JULIA ANN SLATEN. Notes for ROBERT ANTHONY KING: Thomas R King was born in DeKalb County near King's Chapel Church. His father, Robert A. King, a Confederate veteran of the CW, and his family were instrumental in building King's Chapel Methodist Church which is still active today. Thomas King's father, Robert A. King, married Julia Ann Slaten and four Children were born: Anthony, John, Della, and Thomas. Julia ann died at the birth of Thomas and Robert Anthony later married Sally A. Cunningham. Two sons were born to this union, Lilburn and Jeff. (The DeKalb Heritage) iii. JOSEPH W. KING11, b. 1840, GA. iv. JOHN W. KING11, b. 1849, GA. v. JAMES R. KING11,12,13, b. 1850, GA; d. December 11, 1888, Titus County, TX; m. MARY MARGARET STEWART13, September 18, 186814. Notes for JAMES R. KING: According to Alfred Ellis, James R. and Margaret King moved to Cookville, Titus County, TX, where the entire family, with the exception of George, was murdered in 1888. FromTraylor Russell "History of Titus County" Containing Biographical Sketches of Many Noted Characters (By A.L. Burford of Texarkana, Texas) published by W.M. Morrison - Bookseller, Box 3277, Waco, Texas. In 1888, the King family consisted of the husband and wife and seven children. They were tenants on a small farm located 3 miles south of Cookville and were generally well known as quiet, religious law abiding citizens. John Shulze and his family lived about 2 miles, more or less, due east of the King home, southeast of Cookville, and consisted of the husband and wife and two boys, Will and George. George was not too bright, and had six fingers on each hand. Sometime, about September 1888, Will Shulze and King's oldest daughter, then under 18, eloped, and on some kind of forged order purporting to be signed by King, Shulze obtained a marriage license and they were married. King did not like Shulze, was bitterly opposed to the marriage, and refused to let the couple come into his home. No doubt a number of people heard him say he was going to prosecute Shulze for forgery. In December, 1888, after King had rented another farm a mile or so further south, where he expected to move at the end of the year, during a cold spell he killed some hogs, and instead of spreading the meat out to salt at the place he was living, he did so at the smoke house of the place where he expected to move. King had George, his oldest son, to sleep there at night to protect the meat. There were no near neighbors to where King lived. The next morning George King reported when he went home he found his mother and father and five of the children murdered and the house burned to the ground. The oldest of these children was a girl about 16 years old. When George reported what he had found, the whole community for miles around was in a turmoil. The Cookville School practically had to suspend for a week.. Shulze was the one that was at once suspected as the perpetrator of the crime, since he had made threats, so it was said, to kill King if he prosecuted him. In a day or so a vigilante committee was created consisting of something like 200 men, some well armed. They rode about over the community trying to locate the perpetrator of the crime, a rather ridiculous procedure unless they thought somebody would confess or admit it. Some weeks later, Albert Lunsford, who was quite a friend of Will Shulze and his family, reported that will had told him that he and his brother, George, meant to wipe out the King family and stop the alleged prosecution. Tom Walker, another young fellow, had lived in the community and still lived there, also confirmed in some way what Lunsford said. Shulze was the promptly indicted by the Grand Jury and Judge W.B. McLean, Sr., then practicing law at Mt. Pleasant was hired as a private prosecutor. On the trial, Shulze was convicted and given the death penalty. Shulze was represented by S.P. Pounders and assisted by Butler Rolston, who had just en admitted to practice. Feeling was so high that Sheriff Dickson moved Shulze to Sulphur Springs. Pending an appeal, Shulze escaped from the Sulphur Springs jail and started walking down the Cotton Belt Railroad back to Mt. Pleasant. He told several on the way that he was not trying to escape, that he was going to see his sick mother. He was soon ... of the appeal because Shulze ... secured affidavits from different people stating Shulze talked to them and said he was not trying to escape, but simply was going back to see his sick mother. The conviction was reversed by the Court of Appeals on December 18, 1889, in a sound logical opinion by Judge Hurt, without stating all the facts of the enormity of the crime. (12SW 1084). Prior to the time of the second trial in the early part of 1890, Mr. Pounders said that Albert Lunsford came to his home one night and asked to see him privately, but refused to come in the house, stating that he preferred to talk to him at his office. Not knowing what Lunsford had wanted, and particularly why he wanted to see him, Mr. Pounders suspected some kind of trick. He got a lantern and his pistol and told Lunsford to lead the way and that he would go to the office. There were no lights in Mt. Pleasant at that time, only oil lamps. The office was dark, and Mr. Pounders gave Lunsford his office key, and told him to enter the room and light the lamp, and see if there was anyone in the office. Nobody was there, so Mr. Pounders went in and Lunsford told him that his testimony at the Shulze trial was false; that Shulze had never confessed to killing King, but that he did not know what to do about it. Mr. Pounder finally told Lunsford to tell nobody what he had told him, but to let the trial proceed and that when he was sworn as a witness, then to state that his former testimony was untrue. This procedure was carried out, and when Lunsford admitted his testimony was false, Mr. Pounders saw Judge McLean was furious, as he had been grossly mislead by Lunsford and Walker, but there was nothing he could do about it except put Walker on the stand and have him admit his testimony was false. The prosecution against Shulze was dismissed and the Grand Jury, which was in session, promptly indicted Lunsford and Walker for perjury. Each pleaded guilty and received a sentence of five years in the penitentiary. I do not remember what became of Shulze, but while he was in jail, his wife moved to Dallas and the report was that she was living without doing any work whatever, and the last heard of she was still in Dallas. The remains of the seven members of the King family were buried in one grave in the southwest corner of the Cookville Cemetery. Pending this prosecution, George King had the sympathy of the whole community. Many tried to help him. In the summer of 1890, there were several burglaries in Cookville, and one of the merchants who knew King was of the opinion that he was the burglar. Later he was employed by Captain E.R. Nelson and his soon, Dave, as a farm hand on the Daingerfield road some miles east of Mt. Pleasant. The Nelsons had a fine pair of mules. After a trip to Daingerfield, it was reported that a man had offered $250.00 for them, which the Nelsons refused. A day or so later, George King and the mules disappeared. Anticipating that George expected to sell the mules, they went to Daingerfield and found that he had sold the mules, but which were recovered. He was promptly indicted for horse theft and sentenced to two years in the penitentiary at Rusk. Apparently there was no appeal in this case. At Rusk during a portion of the time he was engaged in cutting timber some 15 miles from Rusk to be converted into charcoal for the iron furnaces located there. This timber was moved to the foundry by train. At stated intervals, the paymaster would ride out on the train to pay the guards and other employees in cash, an arrangement well known to George King. When he served his sentence, he did not leave Cherokee County. In some way a mail order house or otherwise, he acquired some false beard and other disguises. He then selected a spot on the railroad, cut a path through the bush to a lag, and after putting tie on the track where it could be seen, he hid behind the log with a rifle. When the train appeared, instead of the paymaster it had been a dentist aboard who as going to do some dental work for the convicts. He volunteered to take the tie off the track. When he did, King fatally wounded him with a shot in the back. He was soon apprehended, tried at Rusk and given a death sentence. His case was appealed in an opinion reported in 29 SW 1086, and King was hung at Rusk. As was the custom at that time, some of the other sheriffs witnessed the hanging, one of whom was Sheriff G.B. Dickson, of Titus County, who had kept George in jail prior to his conviction for horse theft, and from which George had tried to escape. Mr. Dickson said he talked to George and asked him to tell him whether or not he killed his father and mother and brothers and sisters, as everybody believed he did, but King with an oath said he never killed anybody and stepped on the trap. The final conclusion of those who were familiar with all the facts was that George returned to his home, assaulted his sister whose body was found in a different pace from the others, and to hide his crime he killed the entire family and burned the house. vi. SARAH C. KING15, b. 1845, GA; d. Abt. 193416; m. JOSEPH OGBURN BIDDLE. Notes for SARAH C. KING: Great-great grandson is Vince DiNardy, 3900 Park road, S.W., Fort Payne, AL 35967 (205/845-1819) ___________________________________ Gladys DiNardy remembers her great-grandmother saying that she was from Holland, came over on a ship and her brother fell overboard and was drowned. Child of JAMES KING and PARMELIA MATHENY is: vii. LILBURN HENDERSON2 KING17, b. August 14, 1859, Ft. Payne, DeKalb County, AL; d. November 13, 1925, Batesville, Independence County, AR; m. MINNIE BEAUREGARD CHILDRESS17,18, November 24, 1882, Fort Payne, DeKalb County, AL19. Notes for LILBURN HENDERSON KING: "Lilburn Henderson King of Ft. Payne, Alabama and Minnie Beauregard Childress of Attalla, Alabama were married 24 December 1882 in presence of G.W. Webb and wife: Thos. Hollera, (orman). John Franklin, Judge of Probate" Decorated in the style of the time. Only the wedding and birth pages from the family bible are intact. (Compiled by Cecilia King Butt, 1990. Now in the files of William Jackson Butt II, Fayetteville, AR, 501/443-3707) Endnotes 1. Butt, Cecilia King, deceased, researcher. Files now in possession of William Jackson Butt, II, Fayetteville, AR (501/443-3707), 1860 Census, DeKalb County, AL. 2. 1860 Census, Rawlingsville (P.O.) DeKalb County, AL. 3. 1900 DeKalb County Census, Precinct 16, Blue Pond, 129, Entry for son, Robert A. King says father and mother born in NC. 4. Gilbert, Olive Stewart, researcher. 5. DeKalb County Record Book, Entry says "November 31, 1858" November has only 30 days. 6. Gilbert, Olive Stewart, researcher, 1860 Census. 7. 1870 Census, DeKalb County, AL, 844. 8. The DeKalb Heritage (Submitted by Juanita King Kynch). 9. 1900 DeKalb County Census, Precinct 16, Blue pond, 129. 10. 1870 Census, DeKalb County, AL. 11. Gilbert, Olive Stewart, researcher, 1860 Census. 12. Ellis, Alfred C., 1204 Owens Road, Auburn, AL 36830, fax 334/887-7171, 1880 Census, DeKalb County, p. 568B. 13. 1870 Census, DeKalb County, AL. 14. DeKalb County Record Book, Entry says "Mary Stewart." 15. Gilbert, Olive Stewart, researcher, 1860 Census. 16. Dinardi. 17. Butt, Cecilia King, deceased, researcher. Files now in possession of William Jackson Butt, II, Fayetteville, AR (501/443-3707). 18. Penn, Judge J.W., Family Bible, Gadsen, AL (From Butt, Cecilia King, Researcher). 19. DeKalb County Record Book, Mariage Records, Book C, Page 219.