"Johan Jacob Klein Family", research manuscript of Kerry Kline
Please note that the research notes and conclusions as they appear below are those of Kerry Kline, deceased, as they appear in her manuscript. Note that in the first biography, of Johan Jacob Klein, the author lists information from the 1913 book by John Jordan, then points out that the dates are mostly inaccurate.
JOHAN JACOB KLEIN - blacksmith; b. 6 October 1796, Macungie Twp., Lehigh Co. (then Northampton Co.) PA; chr. 7 January 1797 - sponsors: Franses Warmkessel and Elisabetha; d. 6 April 1861, Clarion Co., PA; bur. Knox, Pa; m. to SUSANNAH WEETER - b. 8 May 1808, Berks Co., PA; d. 1 June 1861, Clarion Co., PA; bur. Knox, PA.
From Genealogical and Personal History of the Allegheny Valley Pennsylvania, ed. by John W. Jordan (New York: Lewis Historical Publishing Co., 1913), pp. 651-652.
"The name Kline or Klein is borne by many families in Berks County, Pennsylvania. Of these two forms of the surnames, the former, seemingly, now greatly exceeds the latter in frequency.
(1) Jacob Kline, the first member of this family about whom we have definite information, was born in Berks county, Pennsylvania, and died in Clarion County, Pennsylvania, about 1858. By trade he was a blacksmith. He came to Clarion county about 1825, and had a shop near Blairs Corners, in Beaver township. He and his wife were members of St. Paul's Lutheran Church. He married Susannah Weeter, who was born in Berks County; she died two weeks after the death of her husband. All their children grew to adulthood, David's death in 1908 being the first among them. Children: 1. Harry, died in 1908. 2. Franklin, died in 1909. 3. David, died in 1908; 4. Sarah died in 1910; 5. Charles. 6. James, died in March, 1912. 7. Susanna, died in 1910. 8. William Jackson, of whom further. 9. George Washington, resides in Tennessee, 1912. 10 Wesley. 11. Reuben."
This information on Jacob Kline and his family, was provided to Mr. Jordan for his 1913 book by Jacob's eighth child, William Jackson Kline. Some of the information provided to John Jordan was correct such as the names of the children, where he lived, whom Jacob married, and where he lived. However, MOST OF THE DATES ARE WRONG. It is more accurate to say Jacob moved with his wife to Clarion county between 1836-1839. There is no reference to any of Jacob's children being born in Beaver Twp., Clarion Co., until the birth of James in 1831. He died in 1861 according to the Church records at St. Paul's Reformed Church, while his wife died two months, not weeks, later. The dates of the deaths of some of his children are also not correct as you will see. One would not want to rely on Jordan's dates to look for vital records. But Jordan does provide us with proof that Jacob did live in Clarion county and that he did come from the eastern part of the state.
K1.6 JAMES MADISON KLINE - blacksmith; b. March 1839, Clarion Co., d. March 1912 in Hanging Rock, Elizabeth Twp., Lawrence Co., OH. (Married) m1. LUCINDA RUPERT of Foxburg, PA in 1859. She divorced him after he left her in 1866. No children to her. m.2 28 Nov 1866 to JEMIMA NULL - b. 1848, OH; presumed to be the daughter of Andrew and Julia Null; had 2 daughters to Jemima listed below; d. 18 Jan 1897; m.3 9 March 1897 to ELIZA HUNLEY (according to one sworn statement in James' pension file, she was "colored"). James might have had an illegitimate daughter to her before he married her, while married to wife #2. Served in the Civil War. Co. H, 103rd Penn. Infantry, served from 20 Feb. 1862 to 17 June 1862, discharged early due to temporary blindness; filed invalid pension 9 June 1887, application #C12469, certificate #440936. Eliza applied for a widow's pension on 12 June 1912, application #988230, certificate #844749.
K1.6.1 MARY KLINE - b. ca. 1868, OH
K1.6.2 LENORA KLINE - ca. 1872, OH.
K1.6.3 DORA KLINE - b. Jan 1896, OH; Eliza's daughter. She could be the illegitimate daughter of James.
Company H, 103 Regiment, P.V. Information from A. J. Davis, History of Clarion County, pp. 257-261.
"Kline, James, private, February 22, 1862, three years; date unknown".
Company H was recruited principally in the western part of Clarion County, by Captain James F. Mackey. It was mustered into the United States service at Kittanning, PA, 22 February 1862. Bearing an active and honorable part in the various engagements in which the regiment participated, Company H suffered various losses.
The following information was extracted from his pension record, a despoition dated 8 February 1889 at Vesuvins, Lawrence Co., Ohio.
James Madison Kline served as a private in Company H, 103 PA Voluntary Infantry from Feb. 1862 to 20 June 1862. He was discharged from the Army on 20 June 1862 from Mt. Pleasant Hospital, Washington, D.C. on Surgeons Certificate of Disability on account of Amaurosis or disease of the eyes. He had contracted his disease of the eyes before Yorktown, VA, either the last of April or first of May 1862 under the following circumstances. His company had been building a temporary hospital and he was very hot. He laid down and took a drink of water from a spring. The water was very cold, which chilled his stomach and affected his eyes. He could feel the effect in his eyes within five minutes after drinking the water. The next day James was taken by ambulance to Yorktown and that night was then taken to the Mount Pleasant Hospital in Washington, D. C. James remained there until he was discharged in June 1862. After his discharge James returned to Church, Clarion Co., where he remained until the middle or latter part of April 1863. In April 1863 he moved to Vesuvins, Lawrence Co., Ohio and lived there until he died in 1912.
