Carver Dixon King

Duane's take

Here's how the official marker tells it, and I'll pass it along just the same. Now, every town's got that one person who seems to have done just about everything, and Arlington, Texas found theirs in a man who went by the name C.D. King, though folks around town knew him as Uncle Dutch.

Carver Dixon King came into this world on May 18, 1843, way up in Tennessee. He made his way to Texas in 1873, and when the town of Arlington got itself established in 1876, Uncle Dutch didn't waste any time, he stepped right up and became Arlington's very first mayor. That alone would've been enough for most men.

But most men weren't Uncle Dutch. He came back to the mayor's office again from 1899 to 1900, because apparently one stretch of public service wasn't quite sufficient. In between and all around those terms, he was working as a notary, running a grocery store, operating an icehouse, and serving thirteen, count 'em, thirteen, terms as justice of the peace.

Thirteen. The man had a gift for being exactly where his community needed him. When he wasn't in office, he was on city boards and organizations, keeping his hand in the work of building something worth living in.

He had two children with his first wife, Reola Eunice Buford King. After her death, he married Ione Fort. C.D.

King lived right on through until 1930, and when he passed, he was interred at Parkdale Cemetery. Arlington remembers him today as one of its earliest and most dedicated leaders, which, when you look at the list, seems just about right.

What the marker says

Born on May 18, 1843 in Tennessee, C.D. "Uncle Dutch" King was an early leader in Arlington. He moved to Texas in 1873 and became Arlington's first mayor shortly after the town was established in 1876; he again served as mayor from 1899-1900. King also worked as a notary, owned a grocery store and icehouse, and served 13 terms as justice of the peace. He was devoted to the community, serving on city boards and organizations when not in office. King had two children with his first wife, Reola Eunice (Buford). After her death, he married Ione Fort. C.D. King died in 1930 and was interred in Parkdale Cemetery. Today, he is remembered as one of Arlington's earliest and most dedicated leaders. (2010)