William Edward King, Sr., was a "manager" for the New Hanover Iron Works, Dawson Street, Wilmington, New Hanover Co., NC.

History of Hanover Iron Works, Wilmington, New Hanover County, North Carolina

During the years following the end of the Civil War the economy of Wilmington, N.C. suffered drastically. Since the Cape Fear region was the last port city of the Confederacy to fall, the local economy was almost completely routed by the blockade of the city during the war. The collapseof the C.S.A. and the resulting devaluation of Confederate money left the entire region in a state of poverty.

The 30 years after the war were hard on the local business of the region. It was sometime in the 1890's that W. E. King got word from his son, Eugene that there was work to be found in Atlanta. W. E. King and his other son, Horace Thompson decided to leave the region and go to Atlanta, Ga in search of work. The father and son found jobs as "tin smith" laboring for a large sheet metal fabricator in the Atlanta area and for close to five years they worked and learned the arts of the ancient metalworking trade. In late 1902 the father and son returned to their home in Wilmington bringing the skills and techniques they had learned back with them along with a loan from Eugene King to use to form their own business.

On April 3, 1903 the father and son opened Hanover Iron Works in downtown Wilmington as a custom manufacturer of metal items. The buiness thrived and a few short years later found its first long term home at 111 North Water Street where it remained until relocationg to the present location on Dawson Street in 1959. In 1918 W. E. King passed away ceding ownership to his son Horace Thompson King who ran the business until his death in 1941. His son Horact T. King, Jr., headed the company until H. T. King, III took over the reigns in 1982, heading the company to the present day. In 1998 H. Thompson King, IV became the fifth generation to join the family business as a full time employee eventually taking the operations of the metal fabrication shop.

In 2008 the Metal Fabrication portion of the company split off and became it's own entity, Haover Iron Works Sheet Metal, Inc. to continue the tradition of providing quality and service in the field of metal fabrication. The original Hanover Iron Works, Inc. continues to operate under the leadership of H. T. King, III servicing the Southeastern, N.C. region with commercial roofing and roof repairs.

Submitted by Scott King, Wilmington, N.C.

http://www.hanoverironworks.com

Son of William H. and Caroline Elizabeth (Robbins) King, Jr.

Married 1st., ...

Husband of Mary Elizabeth "Lizzie" (Thompson) King ~ married March 04, 1873, Wilmington, New Hanover Co., NC

William Edward and Mary Elizabeth (Thompson) King, Sr. had 5 children and they were:

1. Eugene F. King, Sr. (m. Sarah Catherine "Kate" King)
2. Horace Thompson King (m. 1st., Lulu Howe and 2nd., Jesse Lee Canton)
3. Mary Elizabeth King (m. Frank Herbst)
4. William Edward King, Jr.
5. Infant son (name unknown) King

An infant son was born to William Edward and Mary Elizabeth (Thompson) King. He died along with his mother Mary Elizabeth (Thompson) King on February 07, 1882. It isn't known if their son was given a name. He is buried along with his parents.

Married 2nd., ...

Husband of Caroline Eugenia (Robbins) King ~ September 06, 1882, Wilmington, New Hanover Co., NC

William Edward and Caroline Eugenia (Robbins) King, Sr. had 10 children and they were:

1. Minnie Robbins King (m. Clifford Steadman Hopkins, Sr.)
2. Edward Horton King
3. Caroline Howell King (m. John Wilkinson Plummer, Jr.)
4. Mary Frost King
5. John Hamby King (m. Mary Ellen Freeman)
6. Eugenia Elizabeth King (m. Herbert G. Coughenour)
7. Harry Augustus King (m. Annie T. Thomas)
8. Bessie Louise King (m. John Clem Snyder, Sr.)
9. George Sidney King (m. 1st., Ann Elizabeth Ryan and 2nd., Lovelle Burk)
10. Richard Maurice King, Sr. (m. Eleanor Pearl Watson)

1870 Census Wilmington, New Hanover County, North Carolina

William H. King 45 yrs
Elizabeth King 44 yrs
Francis King 24 yrs Bookkeeper
William King 20 yrs, Tin Smith

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