King Family History

To understand the long history of the Heath family, my maternal family, it’s important to know where they came from. My maternal grandfather, Millard C. Heath, was born to Annie Mae King in 1922. Her father was Pink Pleasant King who was one of the children of Nelson and Mattie King. That’s where this history will start. The following information was taken from a 2004 “King Family Reunion: Descendants of Nelson and Mattie King” history book.

Nelson and Mattie had their beginnings in the state of Louisiana. Nelson was born in the year 1837. Nelson lived to be 78 years old. His year of death was 1915. Mattie’s year of birth and year of death are not known. Born into slavery, both were blessed to have survived the circumstances of that complex situation.

Following the Emancipation Proclamation, slaves were to be freed, however some where still enslaved for many and varied reasons (slowness of news to travel, slowness of owners to provide the news, etc.) Mattie was still not free. She was forced to flee from her owner’s plantation after refusing to take a whipping and fighting back. She knew she had to flee or stay there and die. Her only option was to steal away into night leaving behind her small baby, Louis. Her escape, thankfully, was successful.

Nelson King was a very hardworking, headstrong, outspoken, intelligent individual. Most of the Kings were, and still are representative of this description.

Nelson and Mattie were married in the late 1800s. To this union, fourteen children were born.

Louis Vail Edwards, the young son Mattie had to leave behind to effect her escape to freedom, was raised by the Huber Garrett family, the slave owners of the plantation. Louis was married to Mary Caroline Louie. To this union, thirteen children (six daughters and seven sons) were born.

Wash King died as a young man. He had a wife, but did not have children.

Pink Pleasant King was born June 15, 1872 in Gibsland, Louisiana. As a young man, he married Elizabeth Lewis in 1892. Pink was a gifted, hard worker. He was a minister, educator, carpenter, and a traveling missionary. To this union fourteen children were born. One daughter, Minnie Inez King died early in life. Twin boys died shortly after birth, and the youngest boy died after birth.

Isaac King was born in 1878. Her married Carrie Patterson and they were blessed with five children. One child, Clevland King, died at an early age.

Mary King was married to Jim Bradley. To this union, nine children were born. Many Bradley families live in Texas. Two children live today from this unit. Lessia Bradley Madison and Ethel Bradley Moore live in Ringgold, Louisiana. Ringgold is one of the King home places.

Minnie Virginia King was married to Willie Stanley. Eight children were born to this union. A daughter from this union lives in the Houston area. Minnie died at the age of 84.

Jim King (James Ambros King) was born in 1885. He was married to Lena Stafford. To this union, one daughter, Abbie King, was born. Later in his life, he became a minister. Jim also had a son named Edward D. King who now resides in the Houston area.

Amos King was known by many as Son Boy. He married Eliza Mae Stafford. He had two sons, Lemon King who died early in life, and Clemon King who had no children. This family branch is no longer growing, but the limbs will not be forgotten.

Lawson King married Ella. To this union, two children were born. Jesse Mae King resides in Shreveport, Louisiana, however contact has not been successful.

Cleve King was married to Frill Stafford. To this union, nine children were born. One daughter from this union resides in Houston.

Albert King married Linda Safford. Five children were born to this union. From Albert’s second marriage, one daughter, Katiee Lee King, resides in Houston. Contact has been unsuccessful.

Pearlie King was known as Aunt Sweetie. She was married to Borey Hewitt. To this union, five children were born. Two of her children are still living. Joe Hewitt resides in California, and Rose Hewitt lives in Gibsland, Louisiana.

Hattie King was married to Frank Wilson. To this union, four children were born. One child, Clifton Wilson is still living (as of 2004).

Mattie King, the youngest girl was married to Dennis Wilson. To this union, four children were born. Tow sons, Leamon Felix Wilson and Dennis Wilson, Jr are deceased. Two of the children are still living. They are Mary Wilson Watkins who lives in Bastrop, Louisiana; and Cleo Wilson Kilgore who resides in Arcadia, Louisiana.

Willie King, the youngest son, was born in 1904. He married Bertha. To this union, one son was born. This son, Herman King, resides in San Diego.

There have been extraordinary accomplishments in this great family. Those accomplishments have continued and will continue throughout the Nelson and Mattie King Family in this millennium and until the end of time. Accomplishments such as entrepreneurs, lawyers, doctors, ministers, craftsmen, architects/engineers, teachers, politicians, managers, concert singers, recording artists, college president, college professors, computer analysts, director, supervisors, administrators, are only a few of the professions that will carry the legacy of one of the strongest trees know in history — The King Family Tree.