King family papers
Collection
Identifier: MSS-0817
Scope and Contents
The papers include accounts, notes, receipts, legal documents, inventories, books, a diary, a speech, a family tree and miscellaneous items relating to the family.
The King Family Papers reveal that Elisha F. King was a successful entrepreneur and multi-plantation owner. At his death he passed these good fortunes on to his only living child, Edwin W. King.
In 1852 when Edwin W. King assumed the management of his father's estate, he became one of the wealthiest men in Alabama. He also achieved success with a hotel in Marion.
When Edwin died in 1860, he left this great responsibility to his wife, Rhoda B. King. With Mrs. King's excellent business judgment, she probably would have been able to hold on to most of the property had she not been faced with the Civil War.
A few of the papers of Edwin W. and Rhoda B. King's children are also included in the collection. These papers reflect their problems created by the Civil War as well as their successes and failures.
The King Family Papers reveal that Elisha F. King was a successful entrepreneur and multi-plantation owner. At his death he passed these good fortunes on to his only living child, Edwin W. King.
In 1852 when Edwin W. King assumed the management of his father's estate, he became one of the wealthiest men in Alabama. He also achieved success with a hotel in Marion.
When Edwin died in 1860, he left this great responsibility to his wife, Rhoda B. King. With Mrs. King's excellent business judgment, she probably would have been able to hold on to most of the property had she not been faced with the Civil War.
A few of the papers of Edwin W. and Rhoda B. King's children are also included in the collection. These papers reflect their problems created by the Civil War as well as their successes and failures.
Dates
- 1803-1894
Conditions Governing Access
None
Biographical / Historical
Elisha F. King (April 10, 1789 - May 11, 1852) was the oldest son of Woody and Sarah King. Among the earliest settlers of Perry County, Alabama, he came to Alabama from Georgia in 1819 to start a plantation, soon became a leading cotton producer. Elisha married Margaret Moore on February 7, 1813. At his death he owned nearly 8,000 acres of farm land, 186 slaves, and a large number of town lots in Marion, Alabama. His property, other than farm land and slaves, was valued at $106,202.11.
Margaret Moore King (December 1, 1791 - September 25, 1863) was the daughter of John and Martha Moore. She was married to Elisha F. King on February 7, 1813, and bore three children--Martha Anne Ford King, Sarah Ann King, and Edwin W. King.
Edwin Woody King (November 28, 1813 - August 10, 1860) was the son of Elisha F. and Margaret King. At his father's death Edwin took over the management of the plantations and cotton farming. He was involved in the construction of the Marion and Cahawba Railroad. He was married to Rhoda Bateman Langdom on July 25, 1833.
Rhoda Bateman Langdon King (November 11, 1817 - January 17, 1895) was the daughter of Levi and Clarissa Langdon. She married Edwin W. King on July 25, 1833, and bore eight children--three boys and five girls. She was forced to take over the running of the plantations after her husband's death. She was able to do this successfully until the Civil War, at which time the plantation system crumbled.
Margaret Clara King Holman (Huey) (June 13, 1838 - October 13, 1910) was the daughter of Edwin W. and Rhoda King. She was married to Dr. W. P. Holman on January 23, 1856, and bore one daughter, Margaret Holman Barker. After the death of her husband, W. P. Holman, she married General James G. L. Huey on January 9, 1866.
Dr. William P. Holman died May 28, 1861. He married Margaret Clara King January 23, 1856. He set up his medical practice in Marion. Dr. Holman tried to help with the plantation business but always seemed to have money problems.
General James G. L. Huey (June 28, 1813 - March 20, 1889) married Margaret Clara Holman January 9, 1866.
Elisha Ford King (September 22, 1841 - March 5, 1864) was the son of Edwin W. and Rhoda King. Charles E. King (September 9, 1849 - October 27, 1913) was the son of Edwin W. and Rhoda King. He married Ann Elizabeth Sturdivant on December 18, 1872.
DeWitt L. King was born November 12, 1846. He was the son of Edwin W. and Rhoda King. He married Lizzie T. Body.
Sarah E. King Huey was born in 1844. She was the daughter of Edwin W. and Rhoda King. She married Col. Benjamin M. Huey on June 9, 1863.
Col. Benjamin M. Huey (June 15, 1840 - May 26, 1906).
Callie Lumpkin King Sturdivant (August 7, 1855 - September 17, 1888) was the daughter of Edwin W. and Rhoda King. She married Walter J. Sturdivant on June 7, 1876.
Mary Elizabeth King (May 22, 1859 - May 7, 1886) was the daughter of Edwing W. and Rhoda King.
Mattie A. King Scott (September 4, 1853 - March 1, 1873) was the daughter of Edwin W. and Rhoda King. She married J. E. Scott on January 24, 1872.
Margaret Holman Barker (November 5, 1856 - April 15, 1930) was the daughter of Dr. W. P. and Margaret Clara Holman. She married Charles Leroy Barker on October 20, 1875.
Charles Leroy Barker (December 25, 1847 - October 29, 1924) was married to Margaret Holman on October 20, 1875.
SOURCE: Jordan, Weymouth T. "The Elisha F. King Family Planters of Alabama Black Belt."
Edwin Woody King (November 28, 1813 - August 10, 1860) was the son of Elisha F. and Margaret King. At his father's death Edwin took over the management of the plantations and cotton farming. He was involved in the construction of the Marion and Cahawba Railroad. He was married to Rhoda Bateman Langdom on July 25, 1833.
Rhoda Bateman Langdon King (November 11, 1817 - January 17, 1895) was the daughter of Levi and Clarissa Langdon. She married Edwin W. King on July 25, 1833, and bore eight children--three boys and five girls. She was forced to take over the running of the plantations after her husband's death. She was able to do this successfully until the Civil War, at which time the plantation system crumbled.
Margaret Clara King Holman (Huey) (June 13, 1838 - October 13, 1910) was the daughter of Edwin W. and Rhoda King. She was married to Dr. W. P. Holman on January 23, 1856, and bore one daughter, Margaret Holman Barker. After the death of her husband, W. P. Holman, she married General James G. L. Huey on January 9, 1866.
Dr. William P. Holman died May 28, 1861. He married Margaret Clara King January 23, 1856. He set up his medical practice in Marion. Dr. Holman tried to help with the plantation business but always seemed to have money problems.
General James G. L. Huey (June 28, 1813 - March 20, 1889) married Margaret Clara Holman January 9, 1866.
Elisha Ford King (September 22, 1841 - March 5, 1864) was the son of Edwin W. and Rhoda King. Charles E. King (September 9, 1849 - October 27, 1913) was the son of Edwin W. and Rhoda King. He married Ann Elizabeth Sturdivant on December 18, 1872.
DeWitt L. King was born November 12, 1846. He was the son of Edwin W. and Rhoda King. He married Lizzie T. Body.
Sarah E. King Huey was born in 1844. She was the daughter of Edwin W. and Rhoda King. She married Col. Benjamin M. Huey on June 9, 1863.
Col. Benjamin M. Huey (June 15, 1840 - May 26, 1906).
Callie Lumpkin King Sturdivant (August 7, 1855 - September 17, 1888) was the daughter of Edwin W. and Rhoda King. She married Walter J. Sturdivant on June 7, 1876.
Mary Elizabeth King (May 22, 1859 - May 7, 1886) was the daughter of Edwing W. and Rhoda King.
Mattie A. King Scott (September 4, 1853 - March 1, 1873) was the daughter of Edwin W. and Rhoda King. She married J. E. Scott on January 24, 1872.
Margaret Holman Barker (November 5, 1856 - April 15, 1930) was the daughter of Dr. W. P. and Margaret Clara Holman. She married Charles Leroy Barker on October 20, 1875.
Charles Leroy Barker (December 25, 1847 - October 29, 1924) was married to Margaret Holman on October 20, 1875.
SOURCE: Jordan, Weymouth T. "The Elisha F. King Family Planters of Alabama Black Belt."
Extent
0.8 Linear Feet
Language of Materials
English
Overview
Includes the papers of the King family of Perry County, Alabama, who owned plantations and other businesses.
Provenance
Mr. and Mrs. Julian Hart, 198?
Processed by
Gibson, Penny Calhoun, 1988; updated by McIlwain, John, 2007; updated by Martha Bace, 2013
- Title
- Guide to the King family papers
- Status
- Completed
- Date
- 1988
- Description rules
- Describing Archives: A Content Standard
- Language of description
- English
- Script of description
- Latin
- Language of description note
- English
Repository Details
Part of the The University of Alabama Libraries Special Collections Repository