The Kings of the cities of Johnstown and Gloversville, Fulton county, New York, are of Scotch, Irish and Dutch descent. The name is a familiar one in early New England annals. After the revolution, when the settlers from New England began making settlements in the Mohawk Valley, the Kings were among those who secured land and founded families. The descendants of John King, of New Lebanon, Massachusetts, settled in the vicinity of Gloversville, early in the nineteenth century.
(I) Robert King and his wife, Eunice Evans, brought with them a family of six children. Robert, their eldest son, was born January 1, 1807. The other children were Eunice, Mary, Henry, Elisha and John.
(II) Robert (2), son of Robert (1) and Eunice (Evans) King, was a carpenter by trade, and married, for his first wife, Christina Van Dyke, by whom there was one daughter, Eliza. His second wife was Harriet, daughter of Volkert and Nancy Veeder, of the Mohawk Valley. Her ancestors played an important part during the war of the revolution in establishing American independence. By this marriage there were eleven children: John Veeder, Eunice, Cornelius, Henry, Robert, Harriet, Mary, Amelia, Mathilda, Christina and George. The parents of this large family lived long after their threescore years and ten, the father to the age of eighty, while the mother survived her husband twenty-two years, passing away in her ninety-sixth year. Her mental faculties remained remarkably clear up till near the close of her life, so that she was able to recount many interesting incidents connected with her early life. She was survived by one hundred and twenty-five living descendants — ten sons and daughters, fifty-eight grandchildren, and fifty-seven great-grandchildren.
(III) John Veeder, son of Robert (2) and Harriet (Veeder) King, was born in the town of Johnstown, Fulton county, New York, August 15, 1836. He was educated in the public schools, and in early life followed the occupation of a farmer. He married (first), July 4, 1855, Anna, youngest daughter of Robert and Janet Ballantine, of Broadalbin, New York, both natives of Perthshire, Scotland, who came to America in 1805. By this union there were six children:
- Charles, born June 14, 1856;
- Anna Janet, March 20, 1858;
- Harriet Louisa, September 8, 1859;
- Sarah B., April, 1861;
- John Veeder (2), July, 1863;
- Clara May, May 17, 1865.
But three of these children survive. In 1866 John Veeder King became engaged in the business of tanning and dressing leather, and began tanning the same in what is known as the "Old Swamp Mill," in Gloversville, where he remained three years. He then moved to Johnstown and opened business in the T. W. & D. Miller Mill, in which business he continued successfully for a quarter of a century. John Veeder King's business career was marked by success financially, notwithstanding the fact that the country passed through more or less business depression. When the question of building a street railway, in 1875, was agitated, between Gloversville and Johnstown, he was one of the prime movers, also a stockholder and director. In 1871 Mr. John Veeder King connected himself with the First Baptist Church, Gloversville, and throughout the following years has ever proved a valued member and advisor in the duties which devolved upon him. The wife and mother passed away May 12, 1888. Mr. King married, for his second wife, August 28, 1889, Mrs. Emma Washburn Comrie. In the meantime his son Charles had finished his education in the public schools and became associated with his father in the leather business. Charles was married, December 4, 1873, to Susan Anna, daughter of Anson Decker and Maria Niver, of Johnstown. To them were born three children,
- John Veeder, October 16, 1876;
- Anson Decker, September 18, 1878, and
- Margie May, May 13, 1881.
In 1876 Mr. John Veeder King admitted his son Charles as a partner, and the manufacturing of glove leather has since been continuously carried on. Their factory was destroyed by fire July 30, 1883, but immediately replaced with a larger and better mill, which was also burned December 28, 1886. Within six weeks the present buildings were erected, and fitted with the best modern machinery for producing glove leather. Mr. King retired from the business in 1903, at which time his son Charles became, by purchase, the sole owner and proprietor. Charles is successful in business and a citizen of high standing and usefulness. He is a member and deacon of the First Baptist Church, Gloversville; also a director of the Young Men's Christian Association, Johnstown, trustee of the Johnstown Free Library, and one of the advisory board of the Old Ladies' Home. Politically he is a Democrat.
Mr. John Veeder King's youngest daughter, Clara May, was married to Richard W. Ansell, October 27, 1886. Three children blessed this union:
- Anna Ballantine, born July 15, 1887;
- Richard Bartlett, December 30, 1891, and
- Harold King Ansell, September 30, 1903.
Anna B., the eldest passed away December 27, 1909.
John Veeder (3), son of Charles King, was married, February 14, 1900, to Jennie Robinson, of Northville, New York, born December 24, 1876. Anson Decker King married, November 22, 1898, Burdella MacMillian. Margie May King was married to Dr. Theodore D. Dockstader, June 14, 1905.
Mrs. Charles King, daughter of Anson and Maria (Niver) Decker, of Johnstown, and granddaughter of George A. Decker, was one of three children:
- Abram Niver, born January 9, 1844;
- Margaret Eleanor, November 8, 1846;
- Susan Anna, April 6, 1856.