The sun., 1918-11-16
GENERAL he KING
DIES EIGHTY-ONE
Won Distinction as Soldier,
Lawyer, Musician, Writer
and Business Man.
FATHER CABINET OFFICER
Won Congressional Medal in
Civil War-Clerk of Plym-
Outh Church, Brooklyn.

One Of the most versatile Of Arneri
der, lawyer, musician, writer, orator.
public!st. business man and wit, died
yesterday OF heart failure in his home
at &c Willow street, Brooklyn. at tho
ripe age of eighty-one. The old civil
war veteran had been In feeble health
ever since 1914. when he suffered
stroke Of paralysis 20 severe that had Il
not been for his strong physique he
could hardly have lived through It
General Kings achievements are sure
ly a proof that there Is something in
heredlty. He came of line OF soldiers,
men who played their part In the Revo-
'utonary war. and the war of 1912.
Himself an editor and deeply interested
In politics, he was the son OF Horatlo
kinS. who was Postmater-General in
President Buchanap's Cabinet. At the
time of his birth, in Portland. Me, in
1887, his father was editor OF the JET
JeTsontdH, a JackSonian Democratic pa
per.
Democrat Then Bull Moose.
Gen. King was a Democrat most
OF his life. He was appointed Judge
| Advocate General by Gov. Cleveland,
and continued in that Office by Gov.
| Hill, and in 1895 was the Democratic
candidate for Secretary OF State and ran
well ahead of his ticket. He worked for
the election OF Cleveland as President
and was a delegate TO several Democratic
conventions, but In 1900 he went over to
the Republicans, and in 1912 was the
Progressive candidate for State Comp
troller.
Gen. Kings education began al
most in his infancy. for the official po-
sition or his father, who moved to Wash
ington when the boy was less than two
years old, brought him into contact with
many famous men. In 1850 he was sent
to Emory College in Virginia, and later
went to Dickinson College.
In 1858 he graduated with honors and
started to study law In the ONCE of
| Edwin NJ. Stanton. who was afterward
President Lincoln's great Secretary of
War. Meantime he Joined the National
| Rifles. the crack company OF Washing
ton. ard did his first service as a sharp
shooter on the housetops along 'Pennsyl-
vania avenue at Llncoln's first Inaugural,
ton.
When the hrSt shots OF the civil war
sounded the young man was eager to
| enlist, but his family persus ded him to
| wait until July, 1852, when with the aid
of secretary Stanton he secured an APP
poIntment as Quartermaster with the
rank Of Captain. A year before that he
married the daughter Of Russell Steb-
bins OF New York and had come to this
city and entered the law office OF Van
Wrinkle, Gambler & Jay.
Won Congregational Medal. o.
Capt King soon mastered the task of
being foster. father to an army, and did
efficient service In fitting out the troops
that responded TO the call following tho
reVerses Of the Union forces In the PENN
sular campaign. After serving as Chief
Quartermaster of De Russey's division
he asked for more active service, and
found 1t as Chief Quartermaster with
the rank OF Major OF the First Cavalry
Division, commanded by General Merritt
His gallant conduct al the battle OF Five
Forks caused Gen. Deyin to recommend
that Major King be brevetted Colonel,
and he also received a Congressional
medal for bravery.
He served till the end OF the war. then
returned to New York. where he became
associate editor OF the New York Star
Later he was publisher OF the Christian
| Union (ths was while Henry Wari
Beecher was editor) and of the ChristtdN
at Work. In 1866, his first wife having
died not long after their marriage, he
welded Miss Esther Howard, daughter
OF John T. Howard Of Brooklyn.
Hts Activity Enormous.
Meantime his interests widened out so
that to one who did not know how me-
thodical no was his accomplishments
were marvel. lie resumed the profess
sion Of law and was admitted to practice
in the United States Supreme Court He
Joined the National Guard and went into
politics. He was widely known as a con-
tributor to magazines. and was famous
as an after dinner speaker.
And in the midst OF all these public
activities he was a family man. News
paper sketches written OF him now and
again speak of his pride in hs Ave
daughters and his ambition to write a
lullaby for each of his grandchildren"
He gave UP this contract after the first
three, though. and II was as well, for
the grandchildren he leaves behind him
number sixteen.
| Hears 2,5OO Sing His Songs.
Gen. King was an organist OF No
mean ability. but in later years Was
seldom seen at the keys. He retained
his Interest in music. however, and not
very many years ago he was tho guest
at a convocaton at tho Girls High
School in Brooklyn. which WIS devoted
TO the singing by the $500 pupils Of
songs OF which the words and music
were his own. His study in his home
In Willow street showed the tastes of
tho man--plainly furnished. but lined
with books and rich IN records and his.
tory OF the war. Music and poetry were
his delight In his old age.
Most OF Brooklyn was familiar with
the face and figure OF General King, at
least before he became 20 feeble. As
the clerk OF Plymouth Church and one
OF the foremost spirits in the Grand
Army he was well known. He was
Churchman. but always liberal in his
attitude on religious questions, and once
quilted an organization because he
found it's policy WAS to Assail the Cath
ollie Church,
Gen. King Is survived by his wife
and by five daushters-Mrs. c. X.
Lltchfield and Mrs. p. II. Grey OF
Brooklyn; Mrs. 8. S. Norton OF Man
haitian, Mrs. George L. Brown OF
Woodmere. l.. l., and Mrs John Han
way OF Pelham Manor; and by n
brother. Henry F, King Of Boston. His
funeral services will be held In Plymouth
Church tomorrow afternoon at 2:3O,
Dr. Newell Dwight Hills officiating.
Ha -.