Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1897-05-20


failed to recuperate, steadily sinking until
death ensued this morning.
He was the son of Samuel and Sally
HialD King and was born in Paris, Me-
June q. 1911. His father was a farmer
and emigrated from Massachusetts,. His
mother was a daughter of Jonathan Hall,
an early settler in Paris, from Hopkinton
Mass. His grandfather was George King
of Raynham, in the state last named, who
with his three brothers, served in the war
for independence. George was orderly
sergeant and clerk of the Raynham COM
pany, and one of the brothers fell in the
war. Like most of the old and patriotic
stock of the revolution and their imme-
diate descendants, these ancestral relatives
Of his were stanchly democratic, which
may, so far as early impressions CO. ac-
count for Mr.. Kings political orthodoxy.
Like most of the country-reared young
men of that period, he was brought up
on the farm, and in the ordinary accept
ance of that term, he was not literally
educated. though he supplemented by care
full study and voluminous reading and re-
search the education which the common
schools afforded. To strongly practical
training he added by his own exertions
unusual literary culture, acquiring among
his other accomplishments good knowl-
edge of the French language. which aided
him greatly in his subsequent official
career.
His Career ms nm Editor.
In the spring of 1929 Mr.. King went into
the Office of the Jeffersonian-a thorough
Jackson democratic paper, then published
in his native town-to acquire an expert
knowledge of the printers art, with the
view of becoming the proprietor, if the
business suited him. In about a year he
bought the paper in partnership with Han
nipal Hamlin, afterward senator and Vice
Dvac nF ha tod Stnfa ,nI CT
months later became sole proprietor, being
then about nineteen years of age. For
while he employed a village lawyer, at a
salary of twelve York shilings a week, to
assist him in editing the sheet. In 1882
he cast his first vote. for Andrew Jackson,
and shortly afterward assumed the entire
editorial management of his paper. Its files
show him to have been consistent and earn
est In his denunciation of South Carolina
notification, and throughout Jackson's ad-
min!stration the Jeffersonian firmly, con-
slstently and energetically supported the
old hero; and when Mr.. Van Buren was.
by the refusal of the Senate to confirm his
nomination, recalled from England where
during the recess the President had sent
MIN as minister, the Jefersonian was
among the first papers in the country to
run his name for the presidency. In 1893
the unfortunate division of the democracy
OF Maine took place, and Mr.. King was in
duced to remove his press to Portland in
May OF that year. The consequence was a
sharp family quarrel on state and local
matters for two or three years, when MANY
or his principal competitors went over bodily
TO the enemy. From first to last Mr. King
comDated every scheme which looked to-
ward disunion. He edited the Jefferso;,ian
until 1888, when he sold it to the Standard.
which was soon after merged into the
Eastern Argus. and may be said to stiu live
In the columns of that stanch advocate of
democratic principles. This terminated his
professional connection with the public
press.
In the Post ONCE Department..
If anything more were wanted to COM
plete Mr.. Kings practical education and his
knowledge OF business and of human na
ture, no better school could have been
found than that which he enjoyed in his
twenty-five years connection with all the
various concerns and operations of the Post
once department. There, If anywhere. the
whole lesson was presented, and by a care
iui' oih8ent and intelligent observer could
De learned. In that school, as was provei
by his successive promotions, and es.eciaI-
~ by his eminent fitness for and usef,Imess
In the responsible positions he Occupied he
cessful student.
In the fail Of 1888 Mr.. King went IN
washington 10 look for newspaper OPEN
Ing, but Iot finding one to his mind he.
IN March, 1889. accepted a cIerkshin at
$1,000 per amt m in the Post Once Deparf-
ment. rendered him by the then Postmas-
ter General Amos Kendall Thus at the
foot of the ladder he commenced that
connection which proved alike beneficial
to the country and honorable to himself.
and whence he climbed, every step marked
by his ability and his energy, to the chief
position. He thus had the proud distinc-
tion of being the only person who has ever
started In the lowest clerkship and ended
with the highest office in the department
that Of Postmaster General. For years he
was the corresponding clerk for New
England In the contract Office, a posjtion
of considerable responsibility. and reouir-
ing for the proper discharge of its duties
the closest application and a large amount
of laber. In 1880 he was transferred to a
corresponding desk, having charge OF the
foreign mail service. In this connection
his services were of the most benefcial
chara tier. Success under hts manaeement
attended the effort to extend and improve
our postal arrangements with foreign ma
tions. In these days. when lines of steam
ships map the ocean as lines Of railroads
do the land, when almost every important
commercial city Of Europe, the fslands ana
South America have their corresponding
connection with some city Of our Union.
whoever really and essentially has Inn
Continued ON Ninth Page.)