Thomas E. King

THOMAS E. KING. Among the many interesting smaller cities of Southwest Virginia few are more inviting as a business center or as a pleasant place of residence than is Marion, with its examples of solid business achievement and professional eminence, and a social atmosphere that reflects education and culture. One of the prominent and substantial citizens of Marion is Thomas E. King, vice president and and cashier of the Marion National bank, with which financial institution he has been identified for the past fourteen years.

Mr. King was born at Rangeley, Henry County, Virginia, January 3, 1878, a son of Jeremiah C. and Eliza (Rangley) King, and a grandson of Camillus King, a native and lifelong resident of Virginia. For many years he was an extensive planter and large slaveowner in Henry and Patrick counties, and died in the latter, leaving descendants. Jeremiah C. King was born on his father’s estate near Spencer, in Henry County, September 3, 1846, and died February 12, 1908, in Henry County, where he had practically spent his’ entire life. He devoted himself -entirely to agricultural pursuits and was a successful and progressive farmers He served as a soldier in the Confederate Army during the closing year of the war between the states, and all his life was a consistent democrat in political faith. He was a leading, member of the Christian Church at Spencer. He married Eliza Rangeley, who was born in Henry County in 1855, and died on the home farm on April 22, 1888. They were well known and highly respected people in Henry County and reared an estimable family, of which Thomas E. was the fourth in order of birth, the others being: John C., who is a practicing physician at Radford, Virginia, haviag received his degree in the University of Maryland at Baltimore; Clarence L., who is cashier of the First National Bank of Pearisburg, Virginia. Nannie, who is the wife of John W. Price, a merchant at Price, North Carolina; Sallie R., who died at Newport, Virginia, on December 1, 1921, at the age of forty-one years, the wife of James D. Miller, a farmer and merchant at Newport; Mamie, who is the wife of Charles B. Price, an ice cream manufacturer at Leaksville, North Caroline; Gertrude C., the wife of William H. Wheelwright, who is connected with the Federal Reserve Bank at Richmond, Virginia; and Helen, who is the wife of Dr. Harvey V. Price, a dental surgeon at Martinsville, Virginia.

Thomas E. King attended the public schools in Henry County and remained on the home farm until twenty-five years old, when he gave up farming to enter business life, for which he had a decided inclination. He then became a bookkeeper in the Bank or Giles at Pearisburg, Virginia, where he continued for three months and then accepted the position of assistant cashier in the Flat Top National Bank at Bluefield, West Virginia. Mr. KiiiLr remained there three years, in the meanwhile learning the banking business very thoroughly. In 1907 he became cashier of the Bank of Matoaka, at Matoaka, West Virginia, and two years later came to Marion. On January 15, 1909, he became cashier of the Marion National Bank of Marion, Virginia, of which he is also vice president. The Marion National Bank was opened for business on July 3, 1903, and has always enjoyed public confidence and generous patronage. It operates with a capital stock of $100,000; and deposits, $870,000. Its officers, all substantial men of the community are: W. L. Lincoln, president; H. B. Staley, vice-president; Thomas E. King. vice president and cashier and acting head; and W. A. Wolf, assistant cashier.

Mr. King married at Salem, Virginia, on August 30, 1911, Miss Margaret V. Painter, who is a daughter of Dr. Frank V. N. and Laura (Shickel) Painter, residents of Salem, where Dr. Painter is a manufacturer and is president of the Comas Cigarette Machine Company. Mrs. King attended Roanoke College and later was graduated with the degree of Doctor of Medicine from the Woman’s Medical College, Philadelphia. Mr. and Mrs. King have one daughter, Margaret Trimble, who was born at Marion on May 23, 1917. Mr. King is a republican, but has never been unduly active in political life, although as a broadminded, careful citizen he is ever found to be ready to cooperate with others in all matters affecting the public welfare. He is a Knight Templar Mason and a Shriner, a member of Marion Lodge No. 31, Ancient Free and Accepted Masons, of which he is a past master; Marion Chapter No. 54 Roval Arch Masons, of which he is a past high priest; Lynn Commandery No. 9, Knights Templar, all of Marion, and Kazim Temple, Mystic Shrine, of Roanoke. He is a member of Royal Oak Presbyterian Church of Marion, and is an elder in this body.

Source: Virginia and Virginians, Vol. VI, p. 286