[1] King was an assistant of Thomas William Moseley, who patented the design of a wrought iron tubular bowstring bridge in 1857.
King improved upon Moseley's efforts by emphasizing distribution and marketing across the United States.
Despite not being trained as an engineer, King knew about the sale and manufacture of boiler plating for farm machinery.
He used this knowledge and with the help of a metalworker named Peter Frees, the two of them sent in a patent for a way to improve the bowstring arch form.
King built a factory in Cleveland next to a main rail line, allowing the bridge pieces to be shipped and assembled quickly.
He established agents across the United States who sold the bridges to officials of cities and counties.
He later started a headquarters in Des Moines, Iowa and hired his nephew, George King, as an agent of the company.