Johan Jacob Kline
JACOB KLINE was the third child in a family of ten children, raised in a close community of German-speaking families. Their lives were intertwined by marriage, a shared religion, and the life of agriculture. Jacob was his father's namesake, but strayed early from the imposed norms. His father indicates in his will that the younger Jacob had been involved in a law suit, and that the father was required to pay the attorney's fee. Also, Jacob fathered a child with Catharina Lauer, but for some reason they did not marry. The Lauer family, from the same church and community as the Kleins, required that the elder Jacob Klein pay child support for 21 years. In his will, Jacob the father leaves this monetary responsibility to the older two sons, Peter and Gabriel Klein, along with their monetary inheritance. Perhaps Peter and Gabriel had inherited the farm land and were the only sons remaining in the area. Jacob the younger had these monetary amounts for the child support and the attorney's fee deducted from his inheritance.
Jacob's father's will was written in 1833, and seems to indicate that 5 years of interest have already been paid on the child support. Thus, the affair Lauer may have occurred in 1827-28. Jacob apparently married Susanna Weeter about this time; their first child, Harriet, was born in 1829. Jacob was aged about 33 and Susanna about 21 that year (calculated from death records.)
Their fifth child, Charles, reports having been born in Berks County, in 1836. Many families in the Lehigh Church lived in either Macungie Twp., Lehigh County, or across the line in Longswamp Twp., Berks county. Perhaps the Weeter family were Reformed rather than Lutheran. The nearest Reformed congregation was the Longswamp Church in Berks Co., five miles from the Lehigh Church.
Around 1838-1840 Jacob and his two younger brothers migrated west, probably to find sufficient land to farm, or perhaps in Jacob's case, to start afresh. John Klein was already married to Anna Fenstermacher, and Philip Klein was married to Ester Fogele. They left the community in Lehigh County and began anew in the Venango/Clarion Counties border area. Records of St. Paul's Church show Jacob Kline as a communicant in 1838.
In 1839, a sixth child, James Madison Kline, was born in Clarion Co. Jacob worked as a blacksmith in Blairs Corners, Beaver Twp, and eventually had eleven children. It is noted that more than one of his children were married multiple times and had relational problems. Both his and Susanna's deaths are noted in the records of St. Paul's church. Jacob died in April of 1861, aged sixty-five, after a long illness. Susanna died two months later, in May 1861, also after a "long and painfull" illness, at age fifty-three. Both are buried in Knox.
This biobraphy is drawn from the Lehigh Co. PA research of Elizabeth Wilson Williams, a descendant of Jacob Kline, Sr.; and the Clarion Co. PA research of Kerry Kline, deceased, a descendant of Jacob Kline, Jr. and Susanna Weeter.
| Date | Location | Notes | Sources | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Birth | 6 Oct 1796 or 7 Mar 1796; bapt. 7 Jan 1797 | Lower Macungie Twp.,Lehigh Co. PA | sponsors: Franses Warmkessel & Elisabetha | [4][6][11] |
| Marriage | apparently Lehigh or Berks Co. | To Susanna Weeter b. 8 May 1808, Berks Co. PA d. 1 June 1861 Beaver Twp., Clarion Co. PA |
[7][11] | |
| Death | 6 Apr. 1861 | Blairs Corner, Beaver Twp., Clarion Co. PA | [6] | |
| Burial | "in Knox"; stone not found | [7] |
Ancestry chart segment
Generation 6 Generation 7 Generation 8
+-- Johannes Peter Klein
| (1741->1808)
+-- Johan Jacob Klein ----+
| (1766-1832/33) |
Johan Jacob Kline --+ +-- Catherine Unknown
(1796-1861) | (????->1818)
+-- Elizabetha Vogele
(1775-1810)
Sources: [4][7]
Children
| Name | Gender | Date of Birth | Birthplace | Spouse | Notes | Sources |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Harry Kline | M | 17 Aug. 1829 | PA, expect Berks or Lehigh Co. | Barbara Anna Slaugenhoupt (1836-1889) | occupation: farmer resided: Salem T., Clarion Co. died 28 Nov 1930, apoplexy buried Triangle Cem., Salem Twp. 9 children |
[2][10] |
| Franklin Kline, "Frank" | M | 7 May 1831 | Beaver Twp., Clarion Co. PA | 1) 24 Jul 1855 to Lowina Wendling 2)3 Mar 1860 to Priscilla Best(24 Mar1841-2 Feb1929)b&d Beaver T. Clarion Co.PA |
farmer, res. Beaver Twp. Clarion Co. PA died 14 July 1905, at home, Beaver Twp., cause of death: heart disease bur. Stone church 9 children |
[2][10][11] |
| David Kline | M | 5 Oct 1833 | PA, expect Berks or Lehigh Co. | Mathilde Kuhns(b.26 Oct 1839, Clarion Co. PA; d. 6 June 1915); (dau. of Joseph Kuhns & Susanna unknown); m. 24 Apr 1859 at Knox by Anton Lachenmayer |
occupation: blacksmith res. Mount Joy, Beaver T. Clarion Co. died 7 Dec 1897 apoplexy, age 64 buried Mt Joy Cem. |
[2][10][11] |
| Sarah Kline | F | May 1834 | PA, expect Berks or Lehigh Co. | Richard Butler (b. 1823, PA) m. 7 Oct 1853 | res. Elizabeth T. Lawrence Co OH 1900 died 27 Mar 1902, consumption 6 children |
[2][10] |
| Charles Kline | M | 7 Aug. 1836 | Berks Co. PA | Hannah Maria Boyd b. 2 Mar1847 Clarion Co. PA d. 11 Sep1916 Goshen KS m. 25 July 1865 Fryburg, Clarion Co. PA dau. of Wm Boyd & Mary McNaughton |
occupation: farmer veteran of Civil War: Co. L, 108 Reg., P.V. 11th Cav., from Sep1861-3May 1865, pension #694707 died 2 Oct 1918 Goshen, Graham Co. KS bur. South Cem., Lenora KS 8 children |
[2][10] |
| James Madison Kline | M | Mar. 1839 | Clarion Co. PA | 1) Lucinda Rupert of Foxburg PA, m. 1859, divorced, no children. 2) Jemina Null b. 1848 OH d.18 Jan 1897 3)Eliza Hunley m. 9 Mar 1897 |
occupation: blacksmith Veteran Civil War Co. H, 103rd PA Inf 20 Feb 1862-17 June 1862 died Mar 1912, Hanging Rock, Elizabeth Twp. Lawrence Co. OH 3 daughters |
[2][10] |
| Susanna Kline | F | ~1841 | Clarion Co. PA | Unknown Webb [10][ ; Emanuel Sloughenhaupt (b. 9 July 1835 Beaver T. Clarion Co. PA)[11] |
died April 1910 | [11] |
| William Jackson Kline, "Jack" | M | 15 Dec. 1844/ 46 | Beaver Twp., Clarion Co. PA bapt. 11 Feb 1845 |
1) Christina Best(b.16 Aug 1852 Beaver T.Clarion Co.PA; d.-16 May 1911, m. 28 Feb 1870) 2) Emma Jones (Hanst) (m. 23 Dec 1914) |
Occupation: farmer 77 acres died 1 May 1932; 3 children |
[2][10][11] |
| George Washington Kline | M | 12 Feb. 1848/47 | Beaver Twp., Clarion Co. PA | Etta/Ella Jeanette Thompson b. 21 Sep 1871 d. 29 Mar 1919 | resident Scott Co. TN 1912; died 13 Jan 1921 4 children |
[2][10][11] |
| Wesley Charles Kline | M | 14 Oct 1850 | Beaver Twp., Clarion Co. PA | 1) (Div) Lucretia Best b. ~1855 2) Sara Texter 3) Annie I. Best (1873-1948) |
died 5 July 1924, Wentlings Corners,Clarion Co. PA 4 children |
[2][10][11] |
| Reuben Kline | M | 12 Oct. 1852 | Knox, Beaver Twp., Clarion Co. PA | Anna Carolina/Karolina Schneider b. 2 Aug 1856; d. 27 Sep 1923 m. 14 Mar 1874 |
died 13 Mar 1919 near Newmansville, Wash.T., Clarion Co. PA. 7 children |
[10][11]
|
Places of Residence
| Location | Dates | Notes | Sources |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lower Macungie Twp., Lehigh Co. | 1796 (birth)- by 1836) | [4] | |
| Berks Co, PA. | by 1836 (birth of son Charles) - by 1839 | ||
| Clarion Co, PA. | by 1839- 1861 | ||
| Blair's Corners, Beaver Twp.,Clarion Co, PA. | by 1844 - 1861 |
Photo Gallery
Sources
| Ref. Num. | Description | Image of original |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1840 United States Federal Census, Beaver Twp, Venango Co, PA, page 9. Census is not dated. Family headed by Jacob Kline: 2 males <5, 2 males 5-10, 1 male 10-15, 1 male 40-50; 1 female 15-20, 1 female 30-40. The males <5 correspond to Charles and James; the males 5-10 to David and Franklin; the male 10-15 to Henry. The female child is the wrong age for the reported date of birth for Sarah who should be 6. (This could be a mismarking or misunderstanding). The adults are the right ages for Jacob and Susanna. |
 |
| 2 | 1850 United States Federal Census, PA Clarion Co., Beaver Twp., pg. 539-270, ln. 6-17. Date of census: 25 Sept. 1850. Jacob Kline, 46, Blacksmith; Susannah, 40, can't read/write; Harriet, F, 20; Franklin, 19; David, 16; Sarah, 15; Charles, 12; James, 11; Susannah, 9; Jackson, 6; Washington, 2; Wesly, 2 mos. All born PA. |
 |
| 3 | 1860 United States Federal Census, Beaver Twp, Clarion Co, PA, page 17. Census dated 26 June 1860. Line 19: Jacob Kline, 60, farmer, $50 real, $100 personal property, b. PA. (Jacob is aparently living alone). |
 |
| 4 | Records of Lehigh Church/Zion's Lutheran Church Baptism of child of Jacob Kleyn & Elisabetha: Johann J. Klein born October 6, 1796; bapt. Jan. 7, 1797; sponsors: Franses Warmkessel & Elisabetha. |
(See text) |
| 5 | Will of Jacob Klein, signed 24 Oct 1832, filed 25 Feb 1833, Lehigh County PA. Deducts 40 pounds with 5 yrs. interest from the inheritance of his son Jacob, " because my son Jacob has had an illegitimate child with Catharina Lauer, daughter of Philip Lauer, ... a child for which I and my two sons, Peter and Gabriel have settled with Philip Lauer and have given him a bond of fourty pounds with legal interest and we have paid until the present day all yearly interest and are obligated to pay such until the above-named bastard child has reached the age of 21... Further is it my will that--because my son Jacob after a legal suit with Heinrich Eigner of Maccunqu Township Lecha County gave a note of $50 to Heinrich Wilson, his attorney, for which note I am gaurantor (security) --that such note of $30 with interest be paid from my possessions and this is to be deducted from the inheritance of my son Jacob." | click for scans & translation |
| 6 | Memorial History of St. Paul's Lutheran and Reformed Churches 1813-1960 p. 194 (translated from original German) "Jacob Klein was born on March 7, 1796 in Lehigh County and was baptized and confirmed there. He died on April 6, 1861, in the morning at 6 o'clock after a long ilness, leaving a wife and 11 children...Died at the age of 65 years, 29 days. R.I.P" "Susanna Klein, widow of Jacob Klein, was born on May 8, 1808, and died after a long and painful illness on June 1, 1861, at the age of 53 years and 24 days." | |
| 7 | "Johan Jacob Klein Family", research manuscript by Kerry Kline, Shippenville, PA, received 1992. Copy available at Clarion Public Library, Clarion PA. (Kerry Kline, deceased, descendant of Jacob Klein, worked as research librarian with the Clarion County Historical Society.)
| |
| 8 | Letters of Administration for Jacob Kline, 3 Dec. 1863, Orphans Court Docket Book C, p. 39, Clarion Co. Court House. Partial transcription by Kerry Kline. Isaac Mong, administrator; property in Beaver Twp., Clarion Co. containing 2 acres 135 perches with frame house, log stable, 20 fruit trees, bounded on the north by Joseph Boyer, on south and east by public roads, on west by Reuben Fowler. Personal estate is insufficient to pay debts; requesite to sell real estate for payment thereof. Sold on 14 Mar. 1863 to Daniel Boyer for $140. For other documentation, we are referred to Registers Docket A., p. 323; Accounts Book B, p. 362; Orphan's Court Book C., p. 253. | |
| 9 | Memorial History of the Pittsburgh Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church 1748 + 1845 + 1925, copyright 1926 by the Pittsburgh Synod. Chap. XIII Churches of Clarion Co. p. 453. St Paul's Evangelical Lutheran p. 457: (Ed. one of the 2 congregations at Wendtlings/Whitlings Corners, Beaver Twp.).. This volume made available by Pastor Kathleen Anderson, Salem Lutheran Church, Clarion Co. PA Feb. 1995. Extracted by N. Walls & Elizabeth W. Williams.
| |
| 10 | "Johan Jacob Klein Family" research manuscript by descendant Kerry A. Kline of Clarion PA, deceased later 1990's. | |
| 11 | "Descendants of Johan Jacob Klein" research manuscript by descendant Kelly Fulcher, correspondant 2008-ongoing. |
Source notes
- There are several Jacob Klein(Kline) families in Berks Co, in the 1830 census. None matches the reported ages of family members well enough to determine. A better match is found in Macungie Twp of Lehigh Co. This Jacob is surrounded by several of Johan Jacob Kline Sr.'s other sons.
- Harry or Harriet Kline: Kerry Kline names the first child of Jacob & Susanna Weeter Kline as Harry, b. 1829, who married Barbara Anna Slaugenhoupt. The 1850 census names Harriet, F, age 20.
- Per research of Kerry Kline: James Madison Kline's 1st wife, Lucinda Rupert, divorced him after he left her in 1866; no children.
His 2nd wife, Jemina Null, is presumed to be the daughter of Andrew Null & Julia unknown. James Madison Kline & Jemina Null had 2 daughters.
3rd wife Eliza Hunley was "colored", according to one sworn statement in James' pension file. They may have had a daughter while he was still married to Jemina Null. His Civil War service ended in early discharge due to temporary blindness; filed invalid pension 9June 1887, application # C12469, certificate #440936. Eliza applied for widow's pension 12 Jun3 1912, application #988230, certificate #884479. - Kerry Kline's manuscript has William Jackson Kline's marriage date to Christina Best as 8 Feb 1870; her transcription of his biography in "History of Clarion Co. PA" ed. A. J. Davis 1887, gives the date as 28 Feb 1870.
- The records of St. Paul's Lutheran & Reformed Church,Beaver Twp., Clarion Co. PA, pg.192, records that a young man named David Thoman, age 22 yrs., died a sudden & unexpected death in the house of Jacob Klein where he was visiting, on March 30, 1859.
