WI BIO - Dane Co - KING, Franklin Hiram
Biographical Review of Dane County, WI. Chicago: Biographical Review Pub. Co. 
1893, Vol II, pp 346

Franklin Hiram KING, Professor of Agricultural Physics in the University of 
Wisconsin [Madison, Dane County], was born in LaGrange Township, Walworth 
County, Wisconsin, 08 June 1848. His father, Edmund KING, was born in North 
Pomfret [Windsor County], Vermont, the son of a VT farmer. He grew up on the 
farm and spent his life in agricultural pursuits. In 1842 he came west to 
Wisconsin, located in Walworth County, and there was subsequently married to 
Deborah LOOMER, a native of Nova Scotia. They had nine children, four sons 
and five daughters, Professor Franklin Hiram being the oldest son.

His early life was spent on the farm, and until he was nineteen his only 
education was that received during the three winter months in the little log 
schoolhouse near his home. In 1868 he entered the State Normal School at 
Whitewater [Walworth County, Wisconsin], where he completed a normal course, 
and graduated in 1872. He then took post graduate work in the same school. 
During three of his summer vacations he was connected with the State 
Geological Survey of Wisconsin. After leaving the normal school he taught 
natural science in the high school at Berlin [Green Lake County], Wisconsin, 
until 1876. From 1876 to 1878 he was a student at Cornell University, taking 
a special course in natural science. In 1878 he was called to the State 
Normal School, at River Falls [Pierce County], Wisconsin, where he was 
Professor of Natural Science ten years. While there he spent one summer at 
the Johns Hopkins Seaside Laboratory, at Beaufort [Carteret County], North 
Carolina, and one summer with the U. S. Geological Survey in North Dakota. 
He was called to the Chair of Agricultural Physics in the University of 
Wisconsin in 1888, and has been connected with this institution ever since.

Franklin Hiram KING was married 30 June 1880 to Carrie H. BAKER, of Berlin 
[Green Lake County], Wisconsin, daughter of Hiram T. BAKER, a manufacturer of 
that place. Franklin Hiram and Carrie H. (BAKER) KING have four children: 
Anna Belle, Max Werner, Clarence Baker, and Ralph S.

Professor KING is the author of numerous scientific works. He has two 
reports in geological surveys: one, "Economic Relations of Wisconsin Birds," 
the other "Geology of the Upper Flambeau Valleys." In connection with 
Professor Alphonso WOOD (author of Wood's Botany), he published a plant 
record. He has also published "Elementary Lessons in Physics of 
Agriculture." While at River Falls Normal School, he and his wife prepared a 
series of relief maps, two of the world, three of the U. S., one of 
Yellowstone Park, and one of Wisconsin. The one of Wisconsin and two of the 
world are at Harvard Museum, and he has sent one set to the Sandwich Islands 
[now Hawaiian Islands]. The Professor has frequently lectured in Wisconsin 
on agricultural physics, on which subject he is an authority.

Submitted by Cathy Kubly