~RILEY BARBER KING~
B: 25 Sep 1825 in Georgia, USA
D: 26 Aug 1896 in Neshoba County, Mississippi, USA

Riley King

Riley King (Close up View)

~TRERESA JANE CRAWLEY KING & RILEY BARBER KING~

The Story of Neshoba By: R.I. Breland The Neshoba Democrat February 23, 1934

THE-KING-FAMILY- Among the early settlers of Neshoba County was Riley King Sr. and family. He has been gone for several years, but he has a multitude of descendants who live in the county. I have been unable to secure the names of his father and mother, so we can only start with the family that came to Mississippi. Perhaps it was about the year 1825 that Riley King Sr.,was born in the state of Georgia. When a young man he came to Alabama. When about 21 years old he was married to Theresa Jane Crawley. This was somewhere about 1850 when this important event took place. Soon after thier marriage, Riley King and wife, and perhaps one or two children, traveled westward in search of a newer country. They traveled likely in a wagon through the eastern part of Mississippi. Among the pines in the western part of Neshoba County near what is now High Hill, they decided that they had found the land of thier dreams so settled down to farming. For about fifteen years they lived thier lives here in western Neshoba where they were induced to sleep by the sighing of the zephyrs in the stately pine tops. Finally, however, they decided to locate farther east, consequently they secured a home one mile west of Philadephia where they settled down and spent the balance of thier lives. To this family were born twelve children The oldest of whom was Samantha Jane who was followed by Joseph William, Margaret Ann, Safrona Isabelle, John H, Martha Ellen, James Warren, Joshua Hughes, Jacob Riley, Lyda Mae, Jermeiah Eugene and Lucy Permelia. All these have married except Eugene. Samantha Jane King married Thomas Wells. The following children ;Theresa and Sudie Wells. Joseph W King married Nen Jones. The names of thier children are not obtainable. Margaret King married Henry Williamson. Thier children ; Alonzo, Lessie Dell, Dixie Jane, Edna, Arbritt, Walter (Buddie). Safrona I King married Thomas P Lewis. Children: Cornelius, Fannie, Alma, Leon, Cleveland and Grady. John H King married Victoria Bowden. Children: Lucien, Ida, Jessie, Rodney, Eva, Victoria, Maxie and Margaret. Martha Ellen King married George Washington Yates. Children: Claude, R.B., Georgia, Lela, Earl, Irene, Eugene and Guy. All the boys of this family are medical doctors, dentists or pharmacists. James W. King married Littie Giles . Children: Ethel, Blanch, Howard, Jewel, and Rita. Joshua Hughes King married Sallie Cannon. Children: Lee, Fannie, Jessie, Byrd, and R.J. Jacob Riley King married Jeanette Conn. They have a number of children but I am not informed as to what their names are. Lyda Mae King married Garrett H Suttle. Children: G.H.Jr., Lyda Mae and Spurgeon. Lucy Permelia King married Walker Yearwood. Children: Permelia, Carrie Lou, Faye, and W.R.Jr. Joe King lives in Texas, Riley, Lucy and Eugene live in Louisiana, all the others who living are in Mississippi. Riley King, Sr, died in 1896, and his wife ,Theresa, died in 1915. In this family there are doctors, preachers, pharmacists, business men and women and school teachers. The family has left its impress upon the county and is still giving a splendid citizenship..