Of Hardy Pioneer Stock.

Leslie Otis King,

Leslie Otis King, the youngest of ten children, was born in Maxfield, Maine, December 29, 1864, the son of Rev. Otis King and Patience Speed King. His father was of English decent, his mother of Scotch and English. His father's people came from Exeter, England, and settled close to Exeter, Maine, named for the town in England. They cleared pine forests and established farms and flour and lumber mills, and founded the town known as King's Mills, Maine. His father was a Baptist Minister.

He lived in the State of Main until four years of age, then came with his parents in a covered wagon from Maine to Beloit, Wisconsin. They settled three miles from Beloit on the Rock River and lived there one year, then his father took a homestead in Iowa, near the town of Little Rock. Many immigrants in covered wagons followed the same trail his parents first made, which led through their door yard.

He lived in Iowa until the age of 18, then went to Colorado, first to St. Elmo, then with a freighting outfit to Glenwood Springs. He packed a burro train up the Grande River for three railroads, the B.&M., D.&R.G. and the Midland. Later went into the mining country and prospected near Gunnison, Gothic, and Grand Junction. From there went to Wyoming and drove a stage to Rowlins, Wyoming, to Meeker, Colorado, 70 miles. The station averaged about ten miles apart, wherever there was water. Packed a mule team for the government during the outbreak of the Ute Indians, carrying supplies groceries, etc. At this time was taken with mountain fever and quit the stage coach. Went into Rawlins, Wyoming, with which was shipping point in the west. Worked there two years, then went to Denver, from there to Buffalo creek Park, Colorado, and took a tie contract. Had charge of a crew of men making ties for the railroad.

Returned to Iowa in 1891, then worked near Grand Island, Nebraska, a while dealing in horses, but preferred Colorado, so went back to Boulder and hauled coal from the mines to Bolder with a mule team. That spring his brother was taken sick so he came home to Iowa to help him farm. Then went farming for a man named John Folken. Here he met Susie A. Hill and they were married in 1896 at Elkton, South Dakota. To this union four children were born; namely, Otis W. who lives two miles south of Wilmot; Hattie Garrett (Mary's maternal grandmother) of Pecatonica, Illinois; Forrest who preceded him in death; and Nellie Lovejoy who lives in Pierre, South Dakota.

About 1900 he took a homestead three miles north of Summit, South Dakota, in Roberts County, where he farmed until 1906. Then came to Wilmot and July 1, 1910, he received an appointment to the rural mail carrier. He carried the mail 21 years. Retired in September 1932. He carried mail by team over the prairie roads for three years, then by car when the roads permitted.

Joined the Oddfellow Lodge at Little Rock, Iowa, in September 1895, and has continuous membership ever since, 47 years. Belonged to all the branches of the Order. He had the rank of Maj. Retired in the Patriarch's Militant Branch, in subordinate Lodge, Dist. Deputy Grand Master.
 

Mary had recently become the holder of some of her mother's papers and old family photos. When looking through them I spotted three aged onion skin pages held together with a straight pin. As I started to read the typed, double spaced document, I thought it was some family history. In a way it was but it was really her great grandfather's obituary. I'm sure in his time and era, he felt he lived a quite normal life. But I can see an interesting book that could be written on about every entry - especially when a young man in the Rocky Mountains. What a thrill it would be to sit under a shade tree and listen to him tell his stories?

Mary and I often jokingly comment about being from "hardy pioneer stock."