Charles Henry King
(March 12, 1853 - February 27, 1930) was an Omaha businessman
who was instrumental in founding several cities in the states of Nebraska
. He saw opportunity with the expansion of the railroad west and built up related retail businesses, banks and freight operations. His fortune was estimated at $20 million. He was also the paternal grandfather of U.S. President Gerald Ford
, who was born in his home in Omaha.
King was born in Perry Township, Fayette County, Pennsylvania
the son of Lynch King and Rebecca Shepherd. King married Martha Alicia Porter, with whom he had five children who lived to adulthood: two sons and three daughters, two of them born in Chadron, Nebraska
. King's son, Leslie
, married Dorothy Ayer Gardner
in September 7, 1912. They were married in Harvard, Illinois
at her parents' home, but returned to Omaha to live, as that was where Leslie was working. After Dorothy became pregnant, Leslie moved into his parents' home to await the birth of his son, and he named him Leslie, Jr.
. Because of problems with alcohol abuse, Dorothy and Leslie were separated sixteen days after their son's birth. Dorothy moved to her sister's home and then to her parents, who had moved to Grand Rapids, Michigan
. Her divorce from Leslie was finalize in December... Read More