Montgomery County – Its Early Officers and Citizens

By A. H. H. Rountree, in the Hillsboro Democrat, Aug. 6, 1873

Among the early settlers of the Grantham settlement was Andrew King who came in 1830 from Tennessee, though born and perhaps raised in North Carolina.  He came bringing with him a large family.  He raised nine children, five girls and four boys.  James and William married in Tennessee.  They married sisters of Hugh McHightower and came to Montgomery County in 1832 and raised large families of whom many children and grandchildren are still residents in county.

James King died about 1850 and his wife a few years later, perhaps in 1860.  Of the five girls only two are living, one in Missouri and one, Mrs. Hefley, in this county.  William King and his wife are still living.

John W. or Esquire King, was pretty well grown when he came to this county.  He was a graduate of Brush College and being a fine scholar was early engaged in teaching and taught school some twenty-five years, seventeen years in the same neighborhood.  He still lives near Irving.  He commenced marrying late in life and kept it up till he has now his third wife.  His first wife was a daughter of Wm. Dryer who died in 1859 leaving one son now grown.  He next married a daughter of E. Grantham who died in 1872 leaving two daughters, now living.  He was recently married to Nancy Nussman and we hope their descendants will be more numerous and worthy of their sire.  By his three marriages he has connected with many of the oldest settler families of the county.  His first wife was a descendant (grand-daughter) and his third being a daughter of the first settler of Hillsboro, John Nussman.  His second wife was granddaughter of A. Wiley and of grandfather Grantham, and through them connects the families of Nussman, Granthams, Wiley, Manns, Coffeys, Dryers, Fogleman, Creses, Osborns, Hightowers and others.  He studied law and we believe obtained license to practice but never made that his pursuit.  He was many years justice of the peace and for six years school commissioner.  He commenced teaching at ten dollars a month and retired at fifty.  He is rich and lives at his ease.

S. F. King has been married twice, both times in Shelby County, where he resided for several years and was once and probably oftener elected school commissioner of Shelby County, where he studied law but never practiced until he returned to this county.  He has taught school for many years and raised a large family – one son at least being grown.

When Andrew King came to this county he built the third cabin in the county north of Irving and south of the middle fork of Shoal Creek on what is called Locust Creek and lived there some twenty-five years and died in his seventy-third years.  His wife died a year or so earlier at about seventy.