Latest revision as of 20:03, 30 May 2008

James Kline was the next to youngest brother in a family of eleven children. His parents had migrated from a fairly German community in Lehigh County, Pennsylvania, west to Clarion County about eight years before he was born. In Clarion County the family moved a time or two before purchasing a farm in Ashland Township. James is believed to be the only one of his many siblings not to live out his life in the Clarion County PA area. He came of age just as the Civil War was ending. In 1867, at age 25, he married Elizabeth Conver, who like James was born in PA. Perhaps good farmland was becoming scarce in Clarion County. For whatever reason, he set off for parts west. Settling first in Elba, Knox County, Illinois, they had a son, Charles William Kline, born in 1868 but he died before 1870. Two more sons, Levi born in 1870 in Illinois and Samuel born in 1872 in Iowa also died young. They had moved further west to Grant Twp., Taylor Co. Iowa, and James was farming. James and Elizabeth had seven more children, all apparently born while they were in Iowa, all of whom survived to adulthood. By 1900 they had pushed west once again, to Milan, Sumner County, Kansas, and were still there in 1908 when James died at age 63 years. Elizabeth was still living on their farm in Kansas with children Walter, Orie, and Mae in 1910. We assume both James and Elizabeth are buried in Sumner County.
The oldest surviving son, John Conver Kline, may have remained in Kansas, where he has descendants to this day. Susan married Frank Holt in Milan, Kansas and lived there until her death in 1955.
Born in 1876, son Newton Oliver Kline married an Illinois woman, Henerietta Martin, in 1907, when he was 30 years old. (It is not certain where they met. Newton may have participated in the Oklahoma land rush which began in 1898. By 1910 he was living in Oklahoma, as was his sister and brother-in-law, Susie and Frank Holt. Susie's three children were born in Oklahoma.) Newton's wife Henrietta was 27 when they married, a widow with an 11 year old daughter Constance Martin. James, Henrietta, and Constance set out together for Oklahoma, where in 1910 they owned a home at 820 Emanuel Rd., Enid, OK. Newton also owned a plumbing shop and worked as a plumber. Their daughter Myrtle was born there in 1913, and daughter June in 1916.
By 1920 they had returned to Kansas, and were living in Wichita with Newton's in-laws, (either a brother or sister of Harriet's), Charles and Glenetta Moore and their 3 year old daughter Charlotte. Newton, drawing on his plumbing experience, was employed as a steam fitter in a lamp plant. Charles Moore was a laborer in the same plant. The step-daughter Constance was also working, as a stenographer for a publisher.
The 1929 fall of the stock market marked the beginning of the Great Depression. This no doubt figured in the circumstances of the Kline family. In 1930 they were living in Phoenix AZ with an Agee family, relationship unknown. They paid $30 a month for a house for 9 people. Constance Martin at age 34 was no longer employed. Newton appears to have been the mechanical handyman at a grocery store. Mr. Agee was a sheep inspector. In addition to their two daughters and older step-daughter, and the Agee family, the Klines had been joined by a 72 year old widow Emma Sabin born in Illinois, possibly the mother of Henrietta. Oddly, Henrietta was also listed as widowed in this census, and had the last name of Garrison, suggesting that perhaps she and Newton separated for a time during which Henrietta may have remarried, become widowed, and returned with her daughter (& mother) to the household of Newton Kline.
The final location of the remaining members of the James Kline family are not known to us.

[edit] Direct ancestry segment

 Generation 5           Generation 6          Generation 7
 
                                      +-- Johan Jacob Klein
                                      |   (1766-1833)
                 +-- John Klein ------+
                 |   (1801-<1877)     |
   James Kline --+                    +-- Elizabetha Vogele
   (1845-1908)   |                        (1775-1810)
                 +-- Anna Fenstermacher
                     (1806-????)
 Sources: [6][10][11]

[edit] Children

(all children with Elizabeth Conver)

[edit] Places of Residence

[edit] Photo Gallery

Front: Elizabeth & James Kline, Susie Holt. Back: John, Walter, Monroe, Newton, & Ray Kline and Mae Hebbard

This photo appears to be from "History of Milan, Kansas 1879-1978" by Leslie "Bud" Yates.^[12]

[edit] Sources

Ref. Num.	Description	Image of original
1	1860 United States Federal Census, PA Clarion Co. Ashalnd Twp. pg.5, ln 11-22. Date of Census 5 July 1860. John Kline, 59 M Farmer, real estate value $1000, personal estate value $200; Ann Kline, 53F; Henry 33M; Rebecca 31F; Jacob 29M; Maria 27F; Catherine 25F; Susanna 23 F; James 18 M; Elizabeth 14F; Sarah 12 F; William 10 M. All born in PA. Henry, Jacob, & Maria are enumerated at the home of his parents, although they are already married. It appears that the census taker may simply have listed all the children of John & Anna Kline, whether they lived at home or not. Rebecca Kline's identity is uncertain; born about 1829. She is thought perhaps to be a visiting distant cousin, the daughter of David Kline, and a descendant of Philip Wendel Klein of Lehigh County.
2	1870 United States Federal Census, Elba, Knox Co, IL, page 1. Census dated 13 Aug 1870. lines 1-3: James Kline, 25, farmer, personal prop $655, b. PA, can not read or write; Eliza, 33, keeping house, b. PA; Levi W., 2 months, at home, b. IL.
3	1880 United States Federal Census, District 215, Grant Twp, Taylor Co, Iowa, Page 14. Census dated 1 July 1880. Lines 6-10: Jas. Kline, 35, farmer; Elizabeth, 34, keeping house; John, 7, at school; Newton, 3, at home; unnamed daughter, 3 months, b. Feb 1880. James & Elizabeth(and their parents) all b. PA; children b. Iowa.
4	1900 United States Federal Census, District 325, Dixon Twp, Sumner Co, KS, pg. 16. Census date 21 June 1900. Lines 16-23: James T. Kline, head, age 55, b. Feb 1845, married 31 years, b. PA ( parents b. PA), farmer, owns farm, no mortgage. Elizabeth, wife, age 54, b. May, 1846, married 31 years, 7 children born, all living, b. PA, (parents b. PA). Newton, son, age 23, b. Dec, 1876, b. IA, farm laborer. Susan A., dau., age 20, b. Jan. 1880, b. IA; in school. James M., son,age 17, b. July 1882 in IA, in school. Charles C., son, age 15, b. Jan 1885 in IA; in school. Orie R., son, age 11, b. Aug 1888 in IA, in school. May M., dau., age 8, b. July 1891 in IA, in school. All can read, write and speak English.
5	1910 United States Federal Census, District 155, Dixon Twp, Sumner Co, KS, pages 7 and 8. Census dated 3-4 April 1910. Lines 48-51: Elizabeth Kline, head, 63, widow, 1st marriage, 10 children born, 7 living, b. PA, parents b. PA, farmer, owns farm, no mortgage. Walter, 24, son, b. IA, parents b. PA, working on farm. Orie, 21, son, b. IA, parents b. PA, working on farm. Mae, 18, dau., b. IA, parents b. PA. All can read, write and speak English.
6	Descendants of Martin Klein research manuscript by Cammy Whitehill Shreffler. Her sources include interviews with elderly family members, and shared sources with other Klein descendants. Cammy Shreffler descends through the line of William O. Kline, younger brother of James Kline.
7	Research of Norman & Sherry Kline, of Wellington KS. Norman Kline descends through the line of John Conver Kline, first surviving son of James Kline & Elizabeth Conver. Contributions include Descendancy chart of the John Conver Kline family, and ancestry back to our common ancestors John Klein & Anna Fenstermacher. Oituary clipping for Walter Kline. James Kline family portrait, from "History of Milan, Kansas 1879-1978" by Leslie "Bud" Yates. Personal communication, that John Conver Kline was the first of James' children to live to adulthood; another child didn't marry.
8	Obituary of Walter Kline, Newspaper source & date unknown. Walter C. Kline of Milan, Kansas, funeral held at Church of Christ, burial in Milan cemetery. He died in a local hospital after a short illners. He was born Jan. 6, 1885 in Clearfield, Iowa, and was a retired farmer. He lived in Milan since 1895. Survivors include sister Mrs. Mae Hebberd of Milan; brother N. O. Kline of National City, CA; nieces & nephews. Clipping supplied by Norman & Sherry Kline
9	"History of Milan, Kansas 1879-1978", by Leslie "Bud" Yates. Photo of James Kline & Elizabeth Conver Kline family, provided to us by Norman & Sherry Kline, appears to be from this portfolio or publication. This portrait names subjects as Front row: Elizabeth & James Kline, Susie Holt. Back: John, Walter, Monroe, Newton, Ray (Kline) and Mae Hebbard. We have not been able at present to review this source.
10	Research Manuscript of Ella May Beals (Wilson) researched 1975-1985, including personal knowledge and interviews of her siblings Robert Beals and Bertha Beals (Chambers), and of her aunt Mary P. Kline (Fillgrove).
11	Personal correspondence from Elizabeth Wilson Williams, granddaughter of Winnifred May Kline.
12	1910 United States Federal Census, District 8, Ward 2, Enid, Garfield Co., OK, page 25. Census dated 25-26 April 1910. Lines 28-30: Newton O. Kline, head, 33, his 1st marriage, length of marriage 3 years, b. IA, parents b. PA, plumber, in shop, owns home, no mortgage. Harriett L., wife, age 30, her 2nd marriage, length of marriage 3 years, one child born, 1 living. Harriet was b. IL, (father b. OH, mother b. IL). Constance Martin, step-dau., 14, b. KS (father b. MO, mother b.IL), in school. All can read, write, speak English. The family resides at 820 Emanuel Rd. in Enid, OK. We surmise that Newton O. Kline married (a widow?) Harriet L. Martin, who had one daughter, Constance Martin. Constance would have been age 11 at the time of their marriage in 1907.
13	1920 United States Federal Census, District 144, Ward 4, Wichita, Sedgwick Co, KS, page 18 and 19. Census dated 10 Jan 1920. Lines 97-100 (page 18) and 1-4 (page 19): Newton Kline, head, 43, b. Iowa( father b. CT, mother PA), steam fitter, lamp mfg, owns home, no mortgage. Hariet, wife, age 43, b. Illinois (father b.OH, mother b. IL). Constance, age 23,daughter, b. Kansas (father b. IA, mother b. IL), stenographer with a publisher. Myrtle, age 6, daughter, b. Okla. June,age 3 years 6 months,dau., b. Okla. Charles Moore, brother-in-law,age 35, laborer, b. Kansas( father b. OH, mother b. IL), laborer for lamp mfg. Glenetta Moore, sister-in-law, age33, b. Iowa (parents b. US). Charlotte Moore, niece, age 3 years 5 months, b. Okla. (father IA, mother KS). Family resides at 1142 North Main Street. All adults can read and write English.
14	1930 United States Federal Census, District 28, Phoenix, Maricopa Co, AZ, page 13. Census dated 7 Apr 1930. Lines 34-44: Newton Kline, head, 54, 1st mar. at age 30, marital status (illegible), b. IA, (father PA, mother CT), mechanic, grocery store, rents home, $30 monthly rent, owns radio. Harriette Garrison, housekeeper,age 54, widow, 1st marriage was at age 19, b. IL (father b. OH, mother b. IL), occupation housekeeper, private family. Emma Sabin, lodger, age72, widow, 1st married at age 17, b. IL,( parents b. NY). Constance Martin, lodger, age 34, b. KS ( parents b. MO). Meryl Kline, lodger,age 17, b. OK (father IA, mother IL). June Kline, lodger, age 13, b. OK (father b. IA, mother b. IL), attended school. Lydia Agee, lodger, age 35, 1st mar. at age 22, b. AZ (father b. PA, mother b. AZ). Oscar Agee, lodger,age 32, b. KS (father b. KS, mother b.AZ). Bessie Agee, lodger,age 10, b. AZ (father b. KS, mother b.AZ), attended school. Margaret Agee, lodger, age7, b. AZ(father b. KS, mother b. AZ),attended school. James Agee, lodger, age 4, b. AZ (father b. KS, mother b. AZ). All adults can read and write. Residence is 917 Second Street. Note: This appears to be mostly family although it is unclear what the relationship is(if any) of the Agees to the Klines. The widow Emma Sabin is possibly Harriette's mother. The census taker may have miss-entered the relationship between Newton and Harriette, and miss-entered Harriet's status as widow See source notes. Also, Newton does not seem to know where his father was born, beyond "back east" somewhere.
15	1930 United States Federal Census, District 12, Dixon Twp, Sumner Co, KS, page 1. Census dated 8 & 11 Apr 1930. Lines 25-30: Walter Kline, head, age 45, single, b. IA,(parents b. PA), farmer, owns farm, not a veteran. Susie Holt, sister, age 50, widow, b. IA (parents b. PA). Lola Holt,age 17, niece, b. OK (father KY, mother IA), in school. Virgil Holt, nephew, age 15, b. OK (father KY, mother b.IA), in school. Charline Holt, niece,age 14, b. OK (father b. KY, mother b. IA), in school; Dorothy Martin, lodger, age 22, b. IL (parents b. US), teacher, public school. All can read, write and speak English. Family does not own a radio.

[edit] Source notes

• Only one census,the 1900 census, gives us the children's names (beyond John C. and Newton who appear in 1880. There are naming discrepancies for two children between this 1900 census and some of our other sources. Walter Cleveland Kline has probably been miss-recorded in 1900 as "Charles C. Kline". The youngest son is shown as "Orie" in both the 1900 census and a Kline family source^[5] , but is listed as "Ray" in the "History of Milan, Kansas.^[9]
• We follow their son Newton O. Kline through the 1910, 1920, 1930 census, in OK, KS, AZ. Newton, with Frank & Susie Kline Holt, possibly joined the Oklahoma land rush which began in 1898.They were in Oklahoma in 1910. He had returned to Kansas by 1920. He was apparently joining the Dust Bowl/Depression era migration toward California when he arrived in Arizona, living there in 1930. By the time of his brother Walter's death (obituary undated), N. O. Kline is listed as a surviving brother living in National City, CA). Newton's wife Harriet, born in Illinois, was married first (about 1896?) to an unknown Martin & had a daughter Constance Martin. (This name could be transcribed as "Morton" from one census, but it is believed to be a miss-spelling of Martin, as "Martan"). Harriet lists her father as b. OH, mother b. IL in both 1910 & 1920. By 1930 however, Newton is living in Arizona with Harriet Garrison, whose data all match that of Harriet Martin Kline, including age, age at first marriage, places of parents' birth, etc.. Harriet Garrison, marked as a widow, lists occupation as housekeeper for private family. We speculate that possibly the census taker miss-marked Harriet as a widow; her entry is followed by another widow, Emma Sabin age 72 & b. IL (Harriet's mother?). Harriet's daughter Constance Martin is still living with them, as are Meryl & June Kline, apparently children of Harriet and Newton Kline. A family of Agees is listed as "boarders", as are most of the others in the household including the Kline children. The Agees may therefore be family also, the mother or father perhaps a sibling of Harriet.
  What is fascinating is that Harriet is marked as a widow & is not marked as wife of Newton. One scenario would be that they divorced, she remarried, was widowed, and returned to Newton to manage this household of expanded family, no doubt struggling to survive the depression. More likely, it may simply be a case of a lazy census taker who gave up on delineating the confusing family relationships and marked all as boarders.

• Grandchildren:^[6]
  The children of Susan Kline & Frank Holt were:
  1) Olin Holt
  2) Mildred Holt, married Gilbert Carrico
  3) Bessie Elizabeth Holt
  4) Lola Holt
  5) Charlena Holt
  6)Virgil Holt
  7)Susan Holt
  The children of Mae Violet Kline and Unknown Heffard, were:
  1) Wilma Heffard
  2) Nola Heffard.
• Geographic locations: Sumner County KS shares a border with Grant Co., OK ; Garfield Co. OK lies immediately south of Grant Co., OK. Milan, Kansas (37°15′25″N, 97°40′29″W) sits approximately at the crossroads of U.S. Rt.160 & state Rt.49. Driving south on Rt. 49, (which changes to U. S. Rt.81 at the OK border), one finds Enid, OK (36°24′2″N, 97°52′51″W ) located about 45 miles south of Milan,KS, at the intersection of U.S. Rt. 81 and U.S. Rt. 412.
  Interstate I- 35 intersects these three counties, north to south, and lies east of and parallel to the U.S. routes 49 (KS) and 81 (OK).
  In the year 2000, Enid, Garfield Co., OK had a population of about 47 thousand. Milan,Sumner Co., KS on the other hand, had a population in year 2000 of 137 persons. This information is from Wikipedia (http://en.wikipedia.org) and from Mapquest(http://www.mapquest.com/). See also Rand McNally Road Atlas, or similar roadmaps.
• The 1920 census (not copied) shows Walter Kline living alone in Dixon Township, Sumner County, Kansas; probably on the family farm. This indicates that Elizabeth died 1910-192o. Susan Kline Holt's husband died before 1930 since she is living with Walter by then.

[edit] Conjecture

[edit] Research Wishlist