History of Michigan, / by Charles Moore. [Vol. 3]

1510

HISTORY OF MICHIGAN

opportunity to gain knowledge. He must prepare for college by the tallow
dip and by gaining knowledge from those who had received the advantages of academic training in the eastern states. Doctor King entered
Holyoke College, at South Hadley, Massachusetts, in I860, and was
graduated therefrom in 1864, although previous to this time she had
taught the district school and was the first preceptress in the high school
at Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio. After her granduation she became superintendent of the public school at Kent, Ohio. After three years there she
married Dr. Robert Lyman King, a young physician who had located
there, and not long thereafter the young couple came to Michigan, locating at Fenton, Genesee county, August 15, 1867.
Robert Lyman King was born October 31, 1841, at Charleston, Portage
county, Ohio, and was the son of Dr. Robert W. and Eunice (Newton)
King, the family being of Irish descent. He was the son, grandson and
great-grandson of physicians, and early showed his inclination for the
profession. He was graduated from the College of Physicians and Surgeons, Philadelphia, February 2, I865, and from Hiram College, Portage
county, Ohio, March 2, I86I. His lterary education was obtained at
the Western Reserve College, Hiram, Ohio, from which he was graduated in I860. He attended Pulte Homeopathic College, Cincinnati, Ohio
(I88I), and served on the staff of the Bellevue Hospital, New York, for
one year. In 1878 he began practice at Flint, Michigan, specializing
in diseases of the eye, ear, nose and throat, and was regarded as one of
the ablest men in his line in the state. He was highly regarded in his
calling, devoted his best interests thereto, and when he died, January 9,
I890, the profession suffered a distinct loss. He was a Republican in
politics, but never took any active part in public affairs. He was a devout
member of the Methodist Episcopal church, and did much to further its
interests.
In 1876 Dr. Mabel Beecher King established herself in practice. In
the face of prejudice, and among a community intensely devoted to
material things she began practicing her profession, relying upon her own
ability and skill to win a way to employment and recognition. Her intelligence, culture and thorough knowledge commended her to all with whom
she came in contact, and she was soon enjoying an excellent practice. In
1878 she accompanied her husband to Flint, where she has since resided
in her beautiful home at No. 607 Harrison street, which she herself
erected. She maintains offices on Van Buren street. Of late years she
has specialized in the diseases of women, but accepts cases of a general
character, and does not confine her practice to office work. She is a
member of the Michigan State Medical Society and Genesee County
Society. With all her acquisitions, Doctor King has fully preserved the
innate delicacy of her womanly nature, and is none the less a lady because
she has become a successful physician.
Two children were born to Robert Lyman and Mabel Beecher King:
Minnia A., born October 24, I868, a maiden lady, who has been her
mother's constant stand-by and companion, and who is in charge of the
household; and Helen Beecher, born March 19, 1872, a graduate of the
University of Michigan (Ph. B.), April 2, 1913, and a teacher in the
department of biology, in the East Saginaw High school for the past
twenty years. Doctor and the Misses King are members of the Daughters
of the American Revolution. They belong to St. Paul's Episcopal church,
of Flint, and are well known in religious and charitable work.
S. EUGENE HULL. Grand Rapids is an exceedingly prosperous and
well-governed city. Its municipal prosperity must be attributed in a
great degree to the businesslike and economical administration of the