A Legacy Rooted in Omro
Raised here. Living here. Restoring here.
Our Mission
King Heritage Properties is committed to preserving our family’s legacy through the thoughtful restoration of historically significant places. We are not developers. We are stewards — raised on this land, deeply rooted in its story, and fully devoted to its future.
Our Story
The land we walk today is the same land we explored as children. This picture of Randy King, with the fox that he rescued, is more than just a memory — it’s a symbol of how connected we are to this place.
We grew up here. We raised our families, cared for our animals, and played in these very fields. Now, we’re committed to preserving what truly matters: the legacy. Selling this land is not an option. Honoring it is — and always will be — our only goal.
Generations of the King Family
William King (1789–1874)
William King, the patriarch of the King family in Wisconsin, journeyed with his wife, Hannah Martin, from Bath, New Hampshire to Winnebago County in 1847. Braving the hardships of frontier travel, they settled just west of the early fur trading town of Omro and established what became known as the King farm. William was the father of Philip King and the grandfather of both Charles Olcott King and Julius Porter King—laying the foundation for generations of family heritage in the region.
Philip King (1816–1897)
In 1870, Philip King and his wife, Mary Anne Tuttle, purchased the land that would later become the site of the Omro Fox Tower. The property had originally been settled by Hosea Knapp in 1852. Philip was the father of both Charles Olcott King and Julius Porter King. Just one year after acquiring the land, in 1871, he transferred ownership of the parcel to his son Charles, who would go on to build the family’s Italianate-style brick farmhouse—an enduring centerpiece of the property and the King legacy in the region.
Charles Olcott King (1840–1916)
A pivotal figure in the legacy of the Omro Fox Tower, Charles Olcott King—brother to Julius Porter King—built the Italianate-style brick farmhouse in 1871, the same year he married Vesta Ann Cornish. Together, they raised their family on the property and established a working dairy farm that exemplified resilience and community stewardship. For decades, the King family cultivated crops and raised livestock on this land—long before the era of silver fox farming began. In 1924, the property was sold to the Cole family, who would go on to construct the iconic tower in 1935. After passing through several hands over the years, the land has finally returned to King family ownership through the descendants of Charles’s brother, Julius Porter King.
Julius Porter King (1854–1924)
Brother to Charles Olcott King and son of Philip King, Julius Porter King was born in Rushford, Wisconsin, and carried forward the King family’s tradition of hard work and land stewardship. He spent his life on the King farm—originally established by his grandfather, William King—where he raised a family with Alice Margaret Winchester and remained an active part of the local farming community. Julius’s unwavering commitment to the land helped ensure that the property—and the values it embodied—remain in the King family to this day.
Ralph Charles King (1884–1970)
Son of Julius Porter King, Ralph Charles King helped bridge the King family’s 19th-century heritage with the progress of the 20th century. He continued the family’s legacy in Omro by maintaining the original King farmland and upholding the values passed down through generations. Alongside his wife, Avis Ella Hackney King (1888–1954), Ralph worked to preserve the family homestead and its reputation through the early 1900s. In 1909, Avis was listed as a registered landowner—a testament to her active role in managing the property and advancing the family’s ideals. Together, they built upon the foundation laid before them and ensured a lasting legacy for future generations, including their son, Ralph Sidney King, who continued the King family’s deep roots in the Omro community.
Ralph Sidney King (1915–2008)
Son of Ralph Charles King and Avis Ella Hackney King, Ralph Sidney King—known to many as “Sid”—belonged to a generation that lived through two world wars, the Great Depression, and a period of sweeping societal change. Through it all, he remained deeply rooted in Omro, taking over ownership and management of the original King farm, along with two additional farms across the road that had been acquired by the family over the years—though the land where the Omro Fox Tower stands had not been in King family ownership for many decades. Together with his wife, Elizabeth Victoria Galicia, Sid upheld the King family’s enduring values of stewardship, resilience, and community commitment. He later passed down portions of the expanded King farm to his sons, Ralph B. King and Randall G. King, both of whom continue to live on the land today, with many of their children living in homes on the property as well.
Randall Gary King (1951– current)
Son of Ralph Sidney King and Elizabeth Victoria Galica, Randall King—known to many as Randy—represents the current generation entrusted with preserving the King family’s legacy in Omro. Alongside his twin brother Ralph and their siblings, Randy was raised with a deep connection to the land. He worked on the family farm for 47 years and built a reputation for home remodeling and renovation. A devoted man of faith, Randy entered the ministry in December 1973 and became Pastor of Wyldewood Baptist Church in 1988, continuing to farm until 1998. After 25 years of pastoral leadership, he retired in 2013 and now travels the country as an evangelist, continuing his lifelong commitment to service.
Together with his wife, Lorinda (Lind) King, Randy now owns a portion of the King farm property, as well as the land that includes Charles Olcott King’s Italianate-style farmhouse and the attached Omro Fox Tower. Today, he remains deeply committed to honoring his family’s roots—not only through hands-on restoration, but by ensuring the land stays within the King family for generations to come, preserving its rich history, enduring values, and lasting legacy.
Our Commitment to Omro
For the King family, Omro isn’t just a town on the map — it’s home. For over 150 years, we’ve walked these fields, raised our children here, and built relationships that span generations.
King Heritage Properties isn’t about profit. It’s about preservation. Our goal is to restore meaningful spaces like the Fox Tower so that future generations of Omro families can experience the stories and beauty we’ve grown up with.
We believe in honoring the past, while strengthening the present — and building a future where history is never forgotten.
