Two Pages from Annie's Autograph Book

Dedicatory

Bring each your gifts to holy Friendship’s shrine

Rarest of gems upon her robes to shine;

Of flowers the fairest round her brow to twine,

While loves ripe vintage pours its joyous wine.

Nor be ye absent from the feast divine,

             Ye classic muses mine!

      Very Truly Yours

     Joseph E King

                           Fort Edwards Institute NY

Dec 2 1862

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Very sincerely your friend

Melissa B. King

Fort Edward N Y

Dec 1862

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Reverend Joseph E. King was born November 30, 1823 in Laurens, Otsego County, New York to Reverend Elijah King and Catherine Olmstead King. 

On July 22, 1850 he married Melissa Bayley in Newbury Vermont. Melissa Bayley (sometimes spelled Bailey) was born April 4, 1828 to Colonial Amherst Bayley and Melissa Stevens Bayley.


Joseph and Melissa had 3 daughters:

Mary Ellen who married Dr.M. W. Van Denberg

Alice who married Professor W.W. McGilton

Helen M. who married J. Earl Cheesman

Joseph E King graduated from Wesleyan College with distinguished honors in 1844. He taught Natural Science and Latin at Newbury Seminary in Vermont from 1849 to 1854, when he took charge of the Fort Edward Institute, which had been erected for him to operate.

Melissa King  taught along side Joseph at the Fort Edward Institute until her death on October 16 1887. King remained as the head of education and finance at Fort Edward Institute until 1910, when the old school building burned down. Three years later he passed away.

Joseph and Melissa are buried together in section 5, lot 5 of the Union Cemetery in Fort Edward, Washington County, New York.

Photo Credit - Anne Dickinson