Albert W. King - G.A.R., Bishop Post - PART 2

An immigrant from Germany, Albert King was extremely patriotic to his new country, the United States.  Not only did he serve his country bravely in the Civil War, enduring an imprisonment in Andersonville and the explosion of the steamboat, Sultana, but he came home after the war and busied himself in civic endeavors in Defiance.  King married and he and his wife had seven children. The grocery business was his livelihood for many, many years.

He lived a long, productive life, passing on in February, 1929.  His obituary, which appeared in the Crescent-News on February 13, 1929, provided a detailed description of his life.




   

"SULTANA VICTIM DIES AT AGE 86

 Retired Merchant, Ill Week, Succumbs After Flu Relapse.

Killey Now Sole Surviving Charter Member of Bishop Post

Albert W. King, 86, charter member of Bishop Post, G.A.R., and survivor of the Sultana disaster, died of pneumonia Tuesday at 5:15 p.m. at his home, 411 Auglaize street, on the 120th birthday anniversary of his commander-in-chief, Abraham Lincoln, under whom he fought during the Civil War to save the Union and free the slaves.

Mr. King's death leaves George W. Killey as the only surviving charter member of Bishop Post.

Mr. King, a retired merchant, had been sick a week.  His fatal illness began with influenza.  He recovered sufficiently to dress last Friday but had a relapse and pneumonia developed.

The funeral will be held Friday at 2:30 p.m. at the home with Rev. Theodore Strauss, pastor of St. Paul's Lutheran church, of which Mr. King was a member, officiating.  Burial will be made in Riverside cemetery.  Members of Bishop Post will attend the last rites of their faithful comrade.  Cars will be sent for the veterans.

Mr. King had a colorful career.  Born in Wittenberg, Germany, on March 6, 1842, he came to America on a sail boat when seven years old and settled in Defiance with his parents, the late Mr. and Mrs. John O. King.

SAVES WOMAN

As a young man he entered business,then enlisted as a private in company D, 100 O.V.I., was taken prisoner and kept in the famous Andersonville prison of the south.  After the surrender of Robert E. Lee, Mr. King was released.  

He went to Vicksburg where with 2,300 passengers, he took the steamer Sultana for home.  After a 48 hour run up the Mississippi river, the ship was destroyed by an explosion of the boilers.  Only 365 persons survived the disaster.

The explosion occurred at night, some miles north of Memphis.  In a few minutes the entire ship was in flames.  As Mr. King leaped overboard, he saved a woman, Mrs. W. C. Perry, Cincinnati, with whom he swam to Chicken Coop Island on the Arkansas side of the flood swollen river.

STARTED BUSINESS WHEN 16

In 1885, the survivors of the disaster formed an organization and annual reunions have been held in Toledo.  Mr. King was corresponding secretary.

He also was adjutant of Bishop Post here, and had been installed for a new term on Jan. 5, 1929.

Mr. King located in Defiance on June 11, 1849.  When 16 years old, he began his business pursuits as a clerk in the dry goods store of Leopold Wattenberg.  After four years, he went to Napoleon, where he clerked in the store of Imber and Richards.

He returned to Defiance in a year and opened a grocery store for himself in a building that stood where the foundry of the Defiance Machine Works is now located.

It was on July 17, 1862 that Mr. King joined the Union forces and he was discharged a corporal on May 20, 1865.  He served with distinction until Nov. 30, 1864, when he was captured.  He had fought in all battles and engagements of his regiment from Fort Mitchell, Ky. to Atlanta, Ga.  His capture occurred at the battle of Franklin, Tenn.  He was taken with 2,000 prisoners to Andersonville, Ga., and also was held for a time at the prison at Meridian, Miss.

Mr. King went to work in the store here of Flickinger and Blair after he was discharged from service.  After several years, he went into the service of A. A. Ayers, but later found employment with Flickinger and Blair.

In 1868, he took charge of a store in Antwerp.  In 1869, he came back and went into the grocery business again for himself.  He retired from that business in 18__ and worked for Brice and Walter Hilton, clothiers.  When their stock was sold to A.F. Harley, he worked for the latter until 1896.  In that year, he went into business again for himself under the firm name of A.W. King and Son.  Business prospered and when 70 years old, Mr. King retired.

He was married to Miss Emma L. Krall of Defiance on June 7, 1868.  Mrs. King died 12 years ago, Feb. 10.

Mr. King is survived by seven children: Mrs. J. A. Backus, Defiance; Henry C. King,Fayette; E. G. King, Defiance; Mrs. Anna Nellis, Lakewood; John C. King,Toledo; Miss Ora King, Defiance; and Mrs. Herbert Carman, Defiance, and one sister, Mrs. Hulda Otterbaugh, Bowling Green."         

 Albert W. King was buried in Riverside Cemetery, Defiance.  In 2015, a special monument and plaque were dedicated in his honor by the Veterans Committee of the Defiance County Chapter of the Ohio Genealogical Society.

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(This is part of a series on Civil War veterans of Defiance County who were part of the G.A.R., Bishop Post, that headquartered in the city.  Formed in 1879, the post was named after a local man, Captain William Bishop, Company D, 100th Regiment, Ohio Volunteer Army who died as a result of wounds received in battle.  The veterans' photos are part of a composite photo of members that has survived.  If you have other information or corrections to add to the soldiers' stories, please add to the comments!)