His great-grandfather, James King, came to Preston County from Oldtown, Virginia. Several of his brothers accompanied him, among them John, Valentine and William. They all settled on Laurel Run in the vicinity of Laurel Church and Schoolhouse, and on the hill overlooking the little valley below James spent his final years. He and his brothers were farmers, although Squire John King owned a mill on the Run, some traces of which pioneer industry are still evident. James King reached Preston County by the beginning of the nineteenth century. His son, Thomas, was born on the Run in 1805. James King married Emma Short. Their children were: Thomas, just mentioned; Alpheus, the other son, who spent his life at the old homestead; Annie, who became the wife of Bayles Shaw and died near Mannington; Bettie, who was the wife of William Herrington and spent her life near Newburg; Eliza, who was the wife of Graham Jenkins and lived on Big Sandy, near Harmony Grove Church; Margaret, who died near Cuzzart, wife of Henry Chidester; and Sophia, who married William Douglass, and both died in Jackson County, Iowa. Thomas King came to manhood through a period in which there were few schools and little opportunity to gain more than the merest fundamentals of knowledge. Nevertheless he became a successful man, and at his marriage established his home on Big Sandy, where he was busy with his farming activities, extended the scope of his land holdings, and at his death left a good estate. He was never a church member, was a republican in politics, and among other accomplishments he was skilled in shoemaking and did much of the community repair work and also made new shoes and boots for his neighbors.

Thomas King married Jane Brandon, who was born and reared at Brandonville, daughter of William Brandon, the village taking its name from the family. Jane Brandon was several years younger than her husband and outlived him about as long. Their children were: Albert and William, who were taken captives and starved to death in the Confederate prison at Andersonville; George, who was a soldier in the First West Virginia Cavalry and spent his civilian life in the Laurel Run community and about Bruceton; Eugeneus B., of Bruceton Mills; Thomas, a farmer in Fayette County, Pennsylvania; Serenia, who became the wife of Ami Jenkins and died in Preston County; Persis, who was married to Isaac Jenkins and lived in Preston County; and Mary, who was the wife of Irvin Christopher and died near Pisgah.

Albert King, father of Thomas Winfield, was born at Laurel Run, and his early life was devoted to his farm. Early in the War of the Rebellion he enlisted in the Third Maryland Infantry, and served more than three years before he was captured. He and his brother, William, were both taken prisoners while on the march, and they were sent to Andersonville, where both perished as a result of the sufferings entailed by exposure and lack of food. Albert King married Hester Ann Jenkins, daughter of Evan Jenkins. With the help of her older children she carried on the work of the farm during the absence of her soldier husband and after his death. She remained there until late in life, when she left the vicinity in which so many useful and hard working years had been spent, and thereafter lived in comfort at the home of her son in Bruceton, where she died in April, 1920, at the venerable age of ninety-seven. Her children were: Alcinius and Mary Armena, twins, the former a resident of Preston County, while the latter died as the wife of Silas Metheny; Thomas Winfield; Jehu, of Bruceton Mills; Hannah, wife of Ben Huggins, of Terra Alta; Evan, who conducts a farm at Laurel Run, in the same vicinity where his pioneer ancestors lived; and Sarah, who became the wife of Marshall Harnet and died in Preston County.

Thomas Winfield King was born on the old farm at Laurel Run, November 3, 1849, and he had the companionship and guidance of his father until he was twelve years of age. He assisted his mother on the farm, attended country schools, and early took up the trade of carpenter. For some time he did journeyman work at Connellsville, Pennsylvania, and then resumed his residence in Preston County. His home has been at Bruceton Mills for thirty-five years, and he has done carpenter work all over this vicinity. About twelve years ago he opened a general merchandise store, and enjoys a large and prosperous trade.

In Preston County, April 10, 1871, he married Mary F. Haines, a daughter of Henry Haines, a farmer in the Hazel Run settlement, though he and his wife spent their last years near Connellsville, Pennsylvania. The children of Mr. Haines were: Mrs. Lavina Gribble, of Bruceton Mills; Catherine, wife of Thomas King, of Connellsville; Mrs. Winfield King, who was born at Hazel Run, November 9, 1853; John, who died near Connellsville; Edward and Hudson, near Connellsville; Bina and Hattie, both of whom died unmarried.

Mr. and Mrs. King had two children. The daughter Cora is the wife of Charles Feather, of Fairmont, and they have four children, May, Freda, Mabel and Hazel. The only son, William, joined the Regular Army, and while stationed in foreign lands died of cholera some seventeen years ago, his body being brought back to San Francisco and buried.

Mr. King has satisfied his interest in politics and public affairs by easting his vote as a republican, beginning in 1872, when he supported General Grant. He has been one of the substantial upbuilders and upholders of Bruceton's prosperity, and owns considerable residence property in the village. He is an active member of the Baptist Church, though Mrs. King is a Lutheran.