Biography - Charles J. King

Dr. Charles J. King, successfully engaged in the practice of medicine and surgery at Columbus, has based his financial advancement upon a thorough and comprehensive understanding of the scientific principles of his profession, combined with a knowledge gleaned from practical experience. He was born in Sheldon, Iowa, November 27, 1879, a son of R. J. and Marie (Arquette) King. The father was born in Albany, New York, and after attending the city schools removed westward to Iowa in early manhood, settling near Dubuque, where he purchased land and engaged in farming until he reached the age of twenty-six. He afterward followed farming near Sheldon, Iowa, until he retired from active business life, his home being now at Rock Rapids, Iowa. His wife was a native of Quebec, Canada, and in her early girlhood went to Dubuque county, Iowa, being married at Farley, that state. Her last days were spent at George, Iowa.

Dr. King was reared upon the home farm between George and Sheldon, in Lyon county, Iowa, and attended a district school in the neighborhood. He did not wish to follow agricultural pursuits as a life work, however, and determined upon a professional career. In 1899 therefore he entered the College of Physicians and Surgeons at Chicago, the medical department of the University of Illinois, and was graduated in 1904 with the degree of M. D. For a year thereafter he served as interne in the Dearborn Post Graduate Hospital of Chicago and he also spent a year in doing post graduate work. In 1906 he removed to McHenry, Foster county, North Dakota, where he practiced for six and a half years, and in 1913 he opened an office in Columbus, devoting his attention to the general practice of medicine and surgery. He is accorded a liberal clientage and his efforts are attended with excellent results in checking the ravages of disease. In addition to his practice Dr. King is quite extensively interested in raising cattle and believes every farmer should have a considerable amount of live stock upon his place. He is putting forth every effort to improve the grade believing in the rotation of crops and the application of scientific methods in the development of the great agricultural state of North Dakota.

On the 14th of July, 1908, Dr. King was married to Miss Alvina Thiede at Tagus, North Dakota. She was born in Crawford county, Wisconsin, and her parents, who were farming people of that state, are now connected with agricultural interests near McHenry, Foster county, North Dakota. Mrs. King was graduated from the high school at Soldiers Grove, Wisconsin, and there engaged in teaching school for two years, while in 1905 she became a schoolteacher of North Dakota. She now has one son, Royal Ross, who was born in McHenry, Foster county, North Dakota, October 26, 1911.

Politically Dr. King is a democrat and in 1915 was elected coroner of Burke county, a position he is now filling. Fraternally he is connected with the Odd Fellows at Buford and the Elks lodge at Jamestown, North Dakota. He has also attained high rank in Masonry as a member of the lodge at Cooperstown, the Scottish Rite bodies in Fargo and El Zagal Temple of the Mystic Shrine, also at Fargo. Along strictly professional lines he has connection with the Northwestern District Medical Society and the North Dakota Medical Society and is a fellow of the American Medical Association. In 1915 he was president of the Columbus Commercial Club. When he came to this state he had a thorough college training in his profession, supplemented by broad hospital experience and post graduate study, but he possessed no capital. Today he is the owner of an excellent farm in Foster county and another in Burke county besides his fine modern residence in the town of Columbus. North Dakota has not been generous to him above others, his success being won through persistent, earnest effort in his profession and judicious investment in property. He is very conscientious in the discharge of all his professional duties and through broad reading and study he keeps in touch with modern methods of thought and practice.

Extracted 05 Nov 2019 by Norma Hass from North Dakota History and People, published in 1917, volume 2, pages 431-432.