[NI0921] Edson designed and patented a piston with a new type of ring groove to help keep oil out of the combustion chamber and in the crank case (oil pan). See copies included in the King Family Album (furnished by Jerry King). The Ford company made him an offer. He conferred with a lawyer, who advised him to hold out for more money. The Ford company had already advised him that it was their ONLY offer. Ford simply got another patent changing the original design slightly, and Edson got nothing for his invention. Those original patent papers are in the hands of Jerry King, the son of Charles King.
[NI0923] Dean served in the armed forces in World War I. He became a Methodist minister. When at a church in Alaska, he adopted Eleanor Rose (of Eskimo parentage). The latter part of his ministry was in various locations in Washington state.
[NI0937] Lawrence was an engineer on the Santa Fe Railroad.
[NI0945] Charles had a teaching degree, but switched from teaching to the U.S. Postal Service where he worked and retired in Amarillo, TX.
[NI0954] Helene retired as a school teacher. Helen's passion besides teaching was her rhododendron flower garden.
[NI0955] George retired from a ship building company in Seattle, WA.
[NI0959]
Norma intensely disliked her middle name and dropped it when she became and adult, substituting her maiden name, King. She filled in for her father as Post Master in the Follett, Texas Post Office after high school graduation.
Norma was a devoted wife, mother and grandmother. She had a reputation as an excellent cook and housekeeper. She was a talented seamstress as well. She did not work full-time outside the home until after the death of Arthur. At one time, she sewed costumes for Dixie Dice, a local tap-dance teacher for extra income, as well as kept other children while their parents worked.
[NI0960]
Arthur worked at the Amarillo Post Office for 31 years. In fact he collapsed and died while on the job at age 53. Probably because of both necessity and frugality, Arthur was an able "handy-man". He seemed to enjoy "tinkering" and fixing things. He was left-handed. He did all the mechanical work on his cars -- knew every nut and bolt on his beloved 1940 Studebaker. He dug by hand the cellar on Florida Street. The cellar was used for storing all the home garden canned goods. He added on to the garage to make a small house for Norma's mother, Virginia May King, to live in after the death of her husband Edson King. This was built during WWII when there was rationing of all kinds of goods due to the war. A new-structure permit could not even be obtained during this time, but an add-on permit could be.
He was adept at playing the harmonica. He enjoyed musical evenings with his brother's Paul and Mark. Mark would play the piano and Paul would play the guitar....all played by ear.
[NI0971]
Edgar enrolled in the military October 11, 1861 as a Private in Company B-9 at Calvary, NY. He was mustered out on May 20, 1862. He was drafted as Private in Company B New York Voluntary Infantry on August 20, 1863. He was discharged on disability on December 16, 1863 and discharged from Lincoln General Hospital, Washington, DC on December 25, 1863.
In an affidavit of December 15, 1891 for a declaration for Invalid Person as a resident of Randolph, Riley Co, KS, Edgar King states in his own handwriting: "I am a claimant. I incurred kidney disease about Sept. 1863 at or near Centerville, VA after a hard forced march and exposures on said march in wading streams. Was sent to hospital and discharged from Lincoln Hospital at Washington on Surgeon's Certificate of Disability about December 25, 1863. Had sun-stroke about 1872 in the city of NY while on police duty. At the time so many was likewise affected. This layed me up at least one month. Neuralgia and Rheumatism has been gradually working upon my system for years. I am now totaly incapasitated so far as manual labor to earn a living."
Edgar's Army disability pension was $6 per month. Lovina's widow's pension at the time of her death was $8 per month.
[NI1106] He brought his wife and 3 small daughters to Oklahoma Territory in 1893. He bought 160 acres from a man who had homesteaded the land in 1891.