An Illustrated History of the State of Washington, by Rev. H.K. Hines, D.D., The
Lewis Publishing Co., Chicago, IL. 1893

CHARLES D. KING, Prosecuting Attorney of Island county, is a native of the State
of Washington, born in Cowlitz county, December 5. 1859. His father, W.P. King,
was a native of Linconshire, England, and emigrated to America with his parents
in his youth. They located in St. Joseph county, Michigan, where he grew to
manhood. He was married in 1851, to Cordelia Hawley, of Niles, in the same
State, one of the most popular young ladies. About a year after his marriage he
started West, taking the overland route. He arrived in Washington in the autumn
of 1852, and settled on a donation claim of 320 acres on Grand Mound prairie,
near Olympia. He soon abandoned this land, and going to the Cowlitz river bought
another claim of 320 acres four miles from Monticello. In 1855 he sent for his
wife to join him, and she came by way of the isthmus to San Francisco, and
thence to Rainier, Oregon, from which point she traveled up the Cowlitz river in
a canoe to her husband's new home. Soon after her arrival the Indian war broke
out, and they were obliged to seek refuge in the old Fort Cowlitz, where their
oldest son, H.S. Kings was born, in 1863. When hostilities ceased they returned
to the claim, and Mr. King was engaged in the cultivation of his land until
1863. Within this time he served four years as Auditor of Cowlitz county. He
then removed to Swan island, near Portland, but as the location proved
unsatisfactory he went to a point in Clackamas county near Oregon City, and
thence in 1869 to eastern Oregon, settling near Weston. There he bought a farm
and once more occupied himself with cultivating the soil. In the fall of 1870,
with his eldest son, H.S. King, he made a visit to his old home in Michigan,
where shortly afterward he lost his life in a railway accident. He was a man of
education and enterprise. In politics he was a Democrat, and always took an
active interest in public affairs. The family were separated several years; H.S.
King was in the East, and the mother and other son, Charles D., remained in the
West. Shortly after Mr. King's death Mrs. King removed to Idaho, traveling by
horse team, and there she arrived with Charles in April, 1871. She afterward was
married a second time, being united to Captain G.C. Chase. Charles P. King then
started out to make his own way in the world. For several years he had no
opportunities of attending school, but occupied his leisure time in reading and
study. In 1875 the family removed to California, and he drove a herd of cattle
from Idaho to that State. Mr. Chase settled on a farm in El Dorado county.
Charles attended the district school a few months each year, and between times
worked at farming and mining. He remained there until 1878, and then went to
Nevada, stopping at Winnemucca, where he spent one year. During this time he
formed a partnership with his stepfather in cutting and selling wood. At the end
of twelve months he went to Cassia county, Idaho, making the trip with a team of
horses. Arriving there he took a squatter's claim, as he was not of age and
could not enter land. He worked on the claim, raised live-stock, and studied
law. He was admitted to the bar in 1885 and was engaged in the practice of his
profession during the balance of his residence in Idaho. He was City Attorney of
Weiser, Idaho, and was Deputy District Attorney of Washington county under his
brother, H.S., who is also a self-made lawyer. They purchased the Weiser Leader,
a weekly paper, which they owned and edited for two years. Charles practiced law
in Albion and Weiser, Idaho, and is known in Boise and all the larger towns in
this part of the country. He came to Olympia in 1890, and opened a law office; a
year later he removed to Whidby island, and has since been practicing his
profession and acting as Prosecuting Attorney of Island county. He is a man of
excellent business ability, a well-read lawyer, and is taking a leading place
among the members of the bar of Washington. In politics he is strongly
Republican. He is a member of the Masonic order, and belongs to the Unitarian
Society of Olympia. He is unmarried and resides with his mother and stepfather,
who are living in Coupeville.

Submitted to the WA. Bios Project in January 2004 by Jeffrey L. Elmer

* * * *

Notice: These biographies were transcribed for the Washington Biographies
Project. Unless otherwise stated, no further information is available on the
individual featured in the biographies.