King 3 Family Photo Album

We wish to credit the majority of photos on the page to "Memoir's of yesterday and today. Freeman, WA. 1885 - 1985". This book was written by an assortment of individuals over the years but the Hans Johnson segment was entered by Esther Johnson. Thank you to those who took the time to CARE and SHARE.

This is Hans Johnson and Mary (Steinzel) Johnson, parents of Clara (Johnson) King, wife of Walter King Sr. This is their wedding picture taken in Freeman, Washington circa 1887. Hans was born in 1850, emigrated from Denmark to Freeman, where he aquired a160 acre Government Land Grant. Mary was born in Reslau, Germany, in 1868 and emigrated to Freeman as a young woman. There they met and married. Clara was the first born of 8 children.

Hans built a sod and log cabin on the homestead where Mary and he lived in the beginning. This is the house he built on the property in 1908 near the original log cabin. In 1985 the two remaining children on the homestead, Esther Johnson and Roy Johnson received a 100 year commemorative award from the State of Washington for the same family on the homestead for a century. The house stood until around 1994 when the youngest child, Clara King's youngest sister Ester Johnson died and a neice inherited the property. Where upon the house was burned down . The home site was sold and the new owner's home was built on the site.

Around 1902 Ingle King, looking for opportunities for himself and his family moved from St. Joseph, Misssouri to Iowa where relatives lived. There he packed up his family, lock stock and barrel including young Walter King Sr. and moved out to Washington in a train car chartered by several families. Some of the family including Walter Sr. ended up in Freeman and gained employment at the local brickyard. There Walter Sr. met and married Clara Johnson. This is their 1911 wedding picture.

The Hans Johnson family was one of only 394 Washington families that ever received one of these commemorative awards.

Three queens and a King in 1938. Little Eddie seems to be calculating the odds. His loving Mother Arlene dotes on him, His Great Grandmother Johnson worships the ground he crawls on and his Grandmother spoils him which is normal. Four generations of King family

So as the curtain closed on the Freeman story it re-opened in Clayton, Washington.

Eddie was in the fast lane, chumming around with Bill Jarrett, Lois Westby and even Minnie Westby.

Eddie is named in honor of Arlene's late older brother Eddie. When Arlene was a tiny tot her mother and father sat her out in a snow bank for a picture in 1920, and she survived. So out into the snow goes Eddie, Beaver Brook in the back ground.

The secret is out, the Kings were growing all these little sprouts in the garden and keeping an eye on them from the old ranch house. Edward Kingrey states this old house where dreams came true was moved clear over to the Hunters, Washington area. It now sits close to the banks of the Columbia River.

Eddie had aunts and uncles in great abundance. Besides his mother's siblings, one of his father's brothers lived in Chewelah. Eddie got to visit his uncle.

(Top picture) As per Eddie Kingrey. "Eddie on old 'Jeff.' This is the horse Leno Prestini found for Grandpa King Sr. when he decided to get me a horse to herd cows down from the upper pasture every night for milking." (Bottom picture) Webmaster Bob Clouse's reply, "Hey, Eddie! What year do you think this photo was taken? I bought a white horse from George Golden about 1945 or 46. Now get a load of this. He was white, a dead ringer for yours and his name was 'Jeff.'" Here's a picture with my brother Don aboard. I don't recall who I sold him to." FOLLOW UP MESSAGES. I had paid $25.00 and was told Jeff was either 12 or 14 years old. He was old enough to have developed some unusual traits. One being, when riding him bare back and going through a gate he would swing close to the gate post and get your leg pinned between him and the post. I still have scars on my legs some 60 years later. Eddie said, "Bobby, I think we got a match. When you left home and were galloping down the road Jeff would throw his legs out without warning, and come to a screeching halt and then try to go back home. Along with another trait or two and yes, I rememember a few scrapes, now that you mention it." Even though Jeff does not have the normal characteristic face markings that make a horse identifiable for life, check the chest and leg muscles. They are identical and Ed was right. We had a match. He said he found Jeff dead down by the machine shop in 1951 making him about 17 to 19 years old. Eddie hitched him to the Farmall tractor, pulled him out to the pasture for the buzzards and coyotes to feed on. So after all these years I can now cease wondering, "What ever became of old JEFF?"

Eddie with little cutie Verna Cox. They are cousins.

The great white hunter with his twenty two after squirrel hunting. His grandfather didn't take much of a liking to them when the mower blade hit a squirrel hill. When you hit one you had to sharpen the sickle.

Eddie with two of his very favorite loved ones, his grandparents, Walter and Clara King. Keeping watch is old Blue. The Blue Streak was Eddie's favorite all time dog.

Mother Alene with the son of which she had always been so proud. And after all the years of trying times they finally see eye to eye. Enjoy the moment mom, it won't last long at the rate Eddie is growing.

This is the notorious Clayton class of 7th & 8th graders at Clayton Grade school. Each student is identified in the photo below.

Evelyn (King) Cox, Verna (Cox) Forney, Arlene (King) Kingrey and Eddie Kingrey at the Cox home in Clayton, circa 1953.

A rarity. Student I.D. was written on the reverse side of the picture.

Eddie, hard at the chores with the new barn looming in the background and the milk house behind him.

This is the 1951 Clayton Baseball team. Back Row. L - R. Neil Compton, Mrs. Mackin, Bruno Costa, Krick, Eding er, Pudge Kingrey, David McBeth, Jack Van Slyke, Mr. Clarence Nord and Earl Engle. Front Row. L - R. Larry Lewis, Lyle Holcomb, John Tobeck, Lonnie Jenkens, Richard Frumdall and Dick Faye.

Eddie, Willie Church, John Bailey and Leroy Cline on their way to the 1955 Senior Ball in John's livingroom in Deer Park, Washington. They are all pumped up and ready to take on the world.

During Edward Kingrey's young life he grew up knowing his Great Grandfather, Grandfather and Uncle Walt were all employed in law enforcement. He knew that to follow in their footsteps he would have to be a superb driver. He got his feet wet on this Farmall tractor. It must have worked because he got his lifelong dream. He was hired as a Clark County Deputy Sheriff and twenty two years later he retired.

Daring to make memories

Eddie and his cousin John Bailey with their Grandfather Water King Sr.

Thanks for the lifetime of memories, Mr. Sheriff Edward Kingrey. You are a very generous gentleman. CDPHS is very beholding indeed.

Grand parents of Eddie Kingrey.

Ed Kingrey, United States Air Force. in 1957. Hopedale, Labrador.

There are certain periods in one's life that are difficult times. Mr. Claude Kingrey entered the lives of Eddie and his mother Arlene during one of these periods and it was a change for the better with lasting effects.

Eddie and his favorite Mother

After all the dust has settled, the one you can most rely on is the one who promised, foresaking all others. I do

Amid the rugged grandeur of the Pacific coast, snuggled at the base of a mountain range with streams meandering, lays the cozy estate of the Kingreys. Add a few trout ponds where mallards gain refuge. What more could you ask or expect from life? This photo and one other on our entire Website are prohibited from copying. Thank you for honoring this request. Sincerely, Webmaster.