California Biographies

Transcribed by Peggy Hooper

This file is part of the California Genealogy & History Archives 
http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~cagha/index.htm

Source:
History of the state of California and biographical record of the San Joaquin 
Valley, California. An historical story of the state's marvelous growth from 
its earliest settlement to the present time.
Prof. James Miller Guinn , A. M.
The Chapman Publishing Co., Chicago 1905
Notes: Missing Page: 865-866,983-984,1175-1176


JOSEPH KING. One of Merced county's substantial citizens and up-to-date farmers near 
LeGrand, Cal., is Joseph King, who owns a two-thousand-acre ranch four miles east of the city, 
upon which he is successfully engaged in the raising of grain. Prior to his occupancy of the 
land in 1892 it was used as a sheep ranch. Mr. King was born in the Azores Islands. Portugal, 
in December, 1851, a son of Frank and Isabel King, honored residents of his native country. 

Leaving home at the age of nineteen years, Joseph King first followed the sea, cruising for 
three years on the South Pacific ocean and on the coast of Africa. In 1873 he came to the 
United States, locating first in Pennsylvania, where he again took up a sea-faring life, sailing 
on Lake Erie for a short time. He later went to Texas, but returned to Pennsylvania the same 
year. In 1874 he came to California, spending the winter of 1874-75 in Sonoma county, and in 
the spring of 1875 settled in Stanislaus county. Remaining there until 1892 he then located in 
Merced county, upon the ranch which has since been his home. Upon locating in Stanislaus 
county Mr. King was united in marriage with Miss Mary Mendonca, also born in the Azores, 
the ceremony being performed in Bedford, Mass. Of the union of Mr. and Mrs. King seven 
children have been born, namely: Emma (the wife of Manuel Ray, of Merced county, Frank, 
William, Julia, Mamie, Joseph, Jr., and Bessie. The family are highly esteemed in the community 
in which they make their home. Fraternally Mr. King is an Odd Fellow, having been identified 
with the order for over nineteen years, and is a member of the Encampment. In his political 
opinions he is a Republican.