George W. King Page 324 - George W. King, proprietor of the Rex Machine Company, is one of the able manufacturers of Grand Rapids. He was born in Bay City, Michigan, August 31, 1884, the son of Charley and Anna (McDonald) King, the former of whom was born in Bay county, Michigan, and the latter in Canada. Both of the parents of George King were of Scotch descent. His father is now dead, but his mother is still living in Grand Rapids. George W. King was educated in the public schools of Bay City, after which he became an apprentice to the machinist’s trade. While he was serving his apprenticeship in this work, he worked during the days and studied tool designing in the evenings. He followed his trade in various cities when he completed his apprenticeship. He then entered the employ of the New York Central railroad as a machinist. At the end of three years he was made master mechanic, holding that position for seven years. In 1916 he came to Grand Rapids and in May of that year purchased the Rex Machine Company, which he still operates. The company has been doing general machine work and special machine building, the latter work being one in which it excels, due to the early training of Mr. King in tool and machine design. During the World war the company was called upon to do war work for the government and the plant was given over entirely to the making of airplane parts for use in the famous Liberty planes developed by the United States government. Mr. King has built up an excellent trade in Grand Rapids, where the quality of the work turned out from his plant is regarded as among the best in the city. He maintains a thoroughly modern plant at 437 Leonard street, N. W. He was married in 1910 to Miss Nellie V. Chase, the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Frank Chase of Ludington, Michigan, and to Mr. and Mrs. King have been born two children, Lorraine, born April 19, 1921, and Margaret, born March 18, 1922. Mr. King is a member of the Grand Rapids Masonic Lodge and is very active in the work of that organization.

Transcriber: Nancy Myers
Created: 12 March 2003