History of Luzerne County, Pennsylvania, with biographical selections, Part 154

Author: Bradsby, H. C. (Henry C.)
Publication date: 1893
Publisher: Chicago : S. B. Nelson
Number of Pages: 1532

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GEORGE W. KITCHEN, proprietor of hotel at Hunlock Creek, was born in Ross township, this county, August 29, 1852, a son of John and Mary (Keller) Kitchen, both of whom were born in Columbia county, Pa. They removed to this county in 1847, locating in Ross township, where, in the course of four years, they bought a farm containing seventy-seven acres of valuable land. John Kitchen was a prac- tical farmer and a man of influence in his town. He lived to be seventy-eight years of age, dying in 1876. His family consisted of nine children, seven of whom grew to maturity and are now living, George W. being the fifth in order of birth. He was reared and educated in Ross township, at the common school, and resided at home until he reached the age of eighteen years, when he set out to make his own way in life. He followed various vocations, finally settling down to hotel- keeping, at which business he has succeeded. In 1878 he married Miss Martha A., daughter of Hiram and Susannah Croop, and to them were born five children, four of whom are now living: Susannah, Fanny, Frease and Fred W. In 1885 he removed to Hunlock Creek, where he is now a popular hotel-keeper. He keeps a good, orderly house, well patronized by the traveling public, and his bar is stocked with the purest of liquors, his cigars being of the finest flavor, while his table is always provided with the most inviting delicacies of any hotel in the surrounding country. Mr. Kitchen owns real estate in Nanticoke, besides other property else- where. Socially, he is a member of the I. O. O. F., and Jr. O. U. A. M. ; politic- ally, he is a Republican.

HENRY KITCHEN, farmer, P. O. Sweet Valley, was born in Union township March 15, 1849, a son of John and Mary (Keller) Kitchen, both of whom were born at Rohrsburgh, Columbia county, and removed to this county about 1839, locating in Union township. John Kitchen owned 127 acres of land, some of which he sold to his son. In 1864 he removed to Ross township, where he took land from the woods, out of which to make his farm, and during his lifetime cleared about twenty acres and erected some buildings. He was a hard-working man, honest and industrious, and he died in 1875, when fifty-four years of age. His family consisted of nine members, five of whom are living. Henry is the sixth by birth, and was reared and educated in Ross township. He has always confined himself to farming and lum- bering. In 1864, at the age of sixteen, he was mustered into the U. S. service as a private in Company C, One Hundred and Ninety-ninth P. V. I., and after the surrender of Lee was transferred to the One Hundred and Eighty-eighth Regiment. He was honorably discharged in October, 1865, and now enjoys a pension. On his return from the army our subject again took up agricultural pursuits. On January 21, 1875, he married Miss Mary A., daughter of Sylvester and Elizabeth White, and of this union were born four children, all of whom are living: James N., Frank A., Ida M. and Cora B. Mrs. Kitchen was born in Ross township July 19, 1854; she is a member of the Christian Church. Mr. Kitchen owns seventy-seven acres of land, and is a good and practical farmer.

JOSEPH KITCHEN, farmer, P. O. Irish Lane, was born in Columbia county, Pa., near Rohrsburgh, June 19, 1821. He is a son of Joseph and Susannah (Cavanee) Kitchen, both of whom were born in Columbia county, the former in 1783. Joseph was the son of Wheeler Kitchen, a native of New Jersey, who removed to Colum-

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bia county at an early day, where he died in 1835, at a ripe age. The Kitchens are well-to-do farmers and prominent men. Joseph Kitchen died in Columbia county in February, 1822; his wife died in 1835. They were very fine people, intel- ligent, amiable, hospitable and entertaining. Their family consisted of ten children, who grew to maturity, two of whom are now (1892) living. Joseph, Jr., is the youngest. He was reared and educated in Mount Pleasant township, Columbia county. He has always devoted himself to agricultural pursuits. He removed to this county in 1839, locating in Ross township, where he rented farms for a few years. In 1851 he bought his present farm of 115 acres, which he made out of the wilderness. He now has a model farm, fine outbuildings and a house with modern improvements. In 1842 he married Miss Nancy, daughter of Elias and Elizabeth Long, to whom were born three children, who are living: Wheeler, Elias and Susannah. The latter married John Kalor. Mr. Kitchen is a practical farmer, and a worthy man who attends strictly to his own business.

J. W. KLEINTOB, farmer, Fairmount township, P. O. Ripple, was born June 25, 1844, in that township, and is a son of Nathan and Mary (Swank) Kleintob, natives of Pennsylvania, and of German origin. The father was also a farmer, and died in 1885, aged sixty-two years. He was a son of Christopher (a farmer), and Catherine (Hetler) Kleintob, natives of Pennsylvania. Our subject, who is the second in a family of seven children, six of whom are living, was reared on a farm, educated in the common schools, and when twenty-two years of age bought a timber tract in Salem township, where he followed lumbering twelve years. Selling same, he bought a farm in Fairmount township, from which he cut the timber; after six years he sold same, and purchased a bakery in Shiekshinny, which he conducted for one year, when he sold out, returning to his native town- ship. Here he bought his present farm of sixty acres, situated one mile south of the Ripple postoffice, built thereon his cozy house, and has since followed farming. Mr. Kleintob was married in July, 1866, to Miss Phenia, daughter of William and Sophia (Levann) Brandon, which union has been blessed with five children, viz. : Lizzie C., Edward B., Nathan W., Lillian M. and Durr. This family are members of the M. E. Church. Our subject enlisted in Company B, One Hundred and Ninety-ninth Regiment Pennsylvania Volunteers, and served with his regiment through the Civil war, participating in all the battles his regiment was in; was wounded at Rin's Station; was promoted to corporal and sergeant, and was discharged in July, 1865. Politically he is a Democrat, and he has been super- visor of his township two years.

STEPHEN O. KLEINTOB, farmer, Fairmount township, P. O. Ripple, was born July 25, 1846, in that township, a son of Nathan and Mary (Swank) Kleintob, natives of Pennsylvania, and of German origin. The father was also a farmer, and died in 1885, aged sixty-two years. He was a son of Christopher and Catherine (Hetler) Kleintob, natives of Pennsylvania, the former being a farmer by occupation. Nathan Kleintob served three years in the Civil war, as a member of the Seventh Pennsylvania Reserves; on January 1, 1862, he was commissioned chief musician of his regiment; he was discharged in July, 1864. Our subject is the third of a family of seven children, six of whom are living. He was reared on a farm, educated in the common schools, and worked at home until he was thirty-five years of age. He then went to Wyoming borough, where he rented a farm for two years, after which he worked one year in the shovel works at same place; then returned to Fairmount township, and purchased his present farm of 100 acres, situated one- fourth mile south of the Ripple postoffice, where he has since followed farming. Mr. Kleintob was married December 4, 1883, to Rosina, daughter of Milo and Samantha (Letteer) Gay, natives of Pennsylvania, and of English and French origin, respectively. This union was blessed with four children, viz .: Samanth died in infancy; Freas B., born December 19, 1885; Mary, born October 11, 1887, and Annie L., born August 23, 1890. Mr. and Mrs. Kleintob are members of the M. E. Church; he is a member of the I. O. O. F. and K. of P .; was post-

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HISTORY OF LUZERNE COUNTY.

master for three years during Cleveland's administration; politically, he is a strong Democrat.

CLARENCE WINFIELD KLINE, lawyer, Hazleton, was born October 25, 1852, near Jerseytown, Columbia Co., Pa., and is a descendant of Jacob Kline, who emigrated to this country from Germany, October 2, 1841, in the ship " St. Andrew." Daniel Kline, son of Jacob Kline, was born in 1742, and served in the Revolutionary war; Daniel Kline, son of Daniel Kline, aforesaid, was a soldier in the war of 1812, and served under Gen. Jackson; he removed from Philadelphia to East Hempfield town- ship, Lancaster Co., Pa., in 1820. George Schenck Kline, father of our subject, was born in East Hempfield township in 1826, and removed to Danville, same State, in 1845. In 1846 he married Miranda, daughter of Jacob Kisner, a native of Germany, who was a cousin of William Kisner, of Hazleton. On the night of their marriage he left with the Columbian Guards for the Mexican war, where he participated in every battle. The Columbian Guards, organized in 1817, belonged especially to Danville, and were famous all over Columbia county, in honor of which the organization took its name. George S. Kline participated in every engagement with his company, entering the service as first sergeant; he was promoted to first lieutenant and brevet captain. He left a magnificent sword to his children as an heirloom, which is now in the possession of the subject of this sketch, and which bears the following inscription engraved upon its scabbard: " Presented to Lieutenant George S. Kline, by General Winfield Scott, for bravery and meritorious service on the battle-field of Vera Cruz, Cerro Gordo, Chepultepec, and Mexico." Lieutenant Kline had the honor of being the man who planted the American colors on the walls of Chepultepec, after three brave soldiers had been shot in attempting to do so. At the close of the war he returned to Danville, where he remained until 1852, when he went west with a party of civil engi- neers, but at St. Joseph he was attacked by cholera and died. C. W. Kline, after his father's death, was taken and raised by his grandmother Kline, in Lancaster county, and in the common schools of that county he received his early education; when thirteen years of age, he left school and went to the place of his birth. When fourteen years of age, he engaged in teaching, his first school being in Anthony township, Montour county. He continued teaching in the winters, and working on the farm in the summers until 1869, when he removed to Jamesville, Pa., and for two years was in the employ of J. C. Hoyden & Co. He was then appointed principal of the Jamesville schools. In 1874 he registered in the office of Thomas J. Foley, then. practicing in Hazleton, and was admitted to the Luzerne county bar, January 10, 1877. Mr. Kline married, November 26, 1874, Jennie, daughter of Samuel Lindner, of Hazleton. Mr. Kline is recognized as one of Luzerne county's leading lawyers, and enjoys a large and lucrative practice. He makes corporation law a specialty, although carrying on a large general practice besides. He has been largely interested in the promotion of the welfare of the city, and has held several offices of trust there, having served several terms on the council while Hazleton was yet a borough, and at its corporation was appointed city solicitor. He is also interested in several business enterprises, such as the Hazleton Electric Lighting Company, Building and Loan Associations, and various other industries. In politics, he has always taken a very active part in behalf of the Republican party.

DANIEL KLINE, justice of the peace, Foster township, was born in Jeddo, this county, March 17, 1867, son of Frederick and Anna E. (Bechtloft) Kline, natives of Germany, who have resided in Freeland seventeen years. In their family there were four children, viz. : F. P., a merchant; W. D., clerk for Coxe Bros. at Drifton; S. H., a stock raiser, in Cresco, Mich. ; and Daniel. The subject of this sketch was edu- cated in the common schools of Hazle and Foster townships, Hazleton borough, and in the Jeddo private schools. In 1883 he, in partnership with his brother W. D., commenced dealing in lime, brick, sand and builders' general supplies, one year later adding hay. feed, etc., to their stock, and since 1889 they have manufactured their own feed. Since beginning business Kline Bros. have had a large patronage,

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and have built up a substantial trade. In February, 1891, Mr. Kline was elected justice of the peace of Foster township, for a term of five years. He was married March 21, 1890, at Monroeton, Bradford Co., Pa., to Miss Laura, daughter of Mrs. Emeline Chubbuck, of that place. Politically, our subject is a Republican.

HENRY AUGUSTUS KLINE, teacher of music, Wilkes-Barre, was born in Lehigh county, Pa., June 6, 1844, a son of Joseph and Anna (Wetherhold) Kline. His paternal grandfather, Jacob Kline, was a native of Lehigh county., Pa., a miller by occupation, and the great-grandfather, Peter Kline, settled in Lehigh county. The maternal grandfather of our subject was Joseph Wetherhold, of French-German stock, a native of Lehigh county and a tanner by trade; he died in 1859. Joseph Kline, who was a miller, farmer and inventor of some note, was born in Lehigh county, and is now living retired at Allentown, Pa. Our subject was reared in his native county, and was educated in the public schools and at Franklin and Marshall College, Lancaster, Pa. From 1860 to 1881 he taught in the public schools of Lehigh, Carbon and Luzerne counties. For twenty-two years he has been a teacher of music, and a resident of Wilkes-Barre since 1881. Mr. Kline married Decem- ber 2, 1869, Amanda Isabella, daughter of Henry and Violetta (Kern) Kuntz, of Slatington, Pa. About three miles from the "Lehigh Gap," at a point where the famous " Warrior's Path " crossed the stream, and where is now the thriving town of Slatington, one Nicholas Kern as early as 1737 took up about 500 acres of land. He died in 1748 leaving six sons and one daughter. Of the sons, William bought a considerable portion of this land. He raised a family of eight children, among them being John Kern who was born in 1777, and lived to the good age of seventy- three years. It was Jonas, the oldest son of John, who settled at the old homestead and conducted the mill, and the farm in what is now the town of Slatington. He had two children-one son, Benjamin, and one daughter, Violetta, who became the wife of Mr. Henry Kuntz. Mrs. Kuntz lived to be but thirty years of age, when she died, leaving six daughters, the eldest of whom is Amanda Isabella, wife of Henry A. Kline. Mr. and Mrs. Kline have three children living: Henry J. (who was graduated from the Philadelphia College of Pharmacy in 1892), Mabel (a stu- dent at Wyoming Seminary, and teacher of piano and organ), and Anna Violet. Mr. Kline is a member of St. John's Lutheran Church, while his family are Episcopa- lians. Socially, he is a member of the F. & A. M., I. O. O. F., K. of P., Jr. O. U. A. M., P. O. S. of A. and K. of M., and was Deputy Supreme Commander for the latter in Wilkes-Barre in 1891. In politics he is a Republican.

JOHN W. KLINE, farmer and stock grower, Huntington township, P. O. Fishing Creek, Columbia Co., Pa., was born in Columbia county, February 7, 1858. He is a son of Joseph and Lany (Eveland) Kline, natives of Pennsylvania, of English extraction, the former of whom is also a farmer and a resident of Fishing Creek. Our subject is the second child in order of birth in a family of ten, nine of whom are living. He was educated in the common schools, and when twenty-one years old went west and worked as a farm hand for two years, when he returned to Columbia county and worked one year at Berwick, on the public works. He then rented a farm in the same county, where he worked for five years, when he purchased his present farm of ninety-three acres, it being the last property on the Huntington creek, in Luzerne county. November 29, 1882, he married Miss Addie Sutliff, who was born July 9, 1862, daughter of Samuel and Lucinda Sutliff, natives of Pennsyl- vania, of English and German origin, respectively. This union was blessed with six children: Bernice M., born October 16, 1883; Gertie A., born January 7, 1885, died June 4, same year; Elsie C., born May 4, 1887; Florence A., born February 2, 1889, died August 12, same year; Annie, born February 23, 1890; and Ernest D., born April 1, 1892. The family attend the M. E. Church, and politically Mr. Kline is a sound Democrat.

ANTON KLINKHAMMER, farmer, P. O. Outlet, was born in Germany, September 4, 1829, a son of Richard and Elizabeth (Engleman) Klinkhammer, both of whom were born in Germany. Anton emigrated to this country in 1852, and located in Wilkes-

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HISTORY OF LUZERNE COUNTY.

Barre, Pa., where he worked at his trade of carpenter, nine years. In 1861 he removed to Lake township, on a lot of fifty-four acres of wild land, which by hard labor he succeeded in converting into a model farm. To this farm of fifty-four acres he has added 169 more, making in all 223 acres, one hundred of which he has improved and on which he has erected substantial buildings. In 1856 he mar- ried, in Wilkes-Barre, Mrs. Mary Shulde Myres, a widow lady with one son, David, who has proven himself to be a true son to his stepfather in all the subsequent years. David, in 1877, married Miss Albertine Ell, by whom were born seven chil- dren, six of them now living: Anton, Emma, Ida, Adolph, Charles and Augusta. Mr. Klinkhammer entered the army in 1861, for ninety days in the Pennsylvania militia, and after the expiration of one hundred days he was honorably discharged; he now enjoys a pension of $12.00 per month. He is a member of the G. A. R., also of the Grange. Mr. Klinkhammer has two fine ponds on his farm, stocked with choice carp.

JACOB KLOSE, farmer, Dorrance, was born in Schuylkill county in 1844, a son of David and Elizabeth (Bennyguff) Klose, the former of whom was born in Germany in 1817, the latter in Schuylkill county, in 1809. David Klose emigrated to this country when a young man, and began his first business in this county, in Foster township. where he was located for a number of years. He lived at Jeddo one year, and at Eckley nine years; then removed to Newport township, where for a num- ber of years he was connected with the mines at Nanticoke. Finally he came to Dorrance township, where he purchased 128 acres of land, now the property of his son Jacob. He was a hard-working, honest and industrious man, one who accom- plished what he did, in accumulating means, with his own hands; he died in 1886, aged sixty-eight years. His family consisted of five children, four of whom are liv- ing, Jacob being the eldest in the family. Our subject was six years of age when his father removed to this county, and was consequently reared and educated in Foster township. He always followed farming, as his chosen vocation in life, and in 1871 he removed to his present farm of 128 acres, where he is engaged in the cultivation of the soil. He has forty acres under cultivation, and is a good farmer. In 1881 Mr. Klose married Miss Emma Dotton, boru at Chestnut Hill, who bore him six children, all yet living: Henry, Rena, Ezra, Millie, Ranson and David. Mr. and Mrs. Klose are both member of the Reformed Church. Politically he is a Democrat.

CHARLES PAXTON KNAPP, physician, Wyoming, born at No. 24 North Franklin street, Wilkes-Barre, August 13, 1853, is a son of George and Ellen Eliza (Hurlbut) Knapp. The father was one of Wilkes-Barre's early manufacturers, being a pioneer in powder making and the manufacture of bricks by machinery. The Knapp fam- ily are of Anglo-Saxon origin, direct descendants of Roger De Cnoep (Knapp) of Sussex county, England, to whom arms were granted by Henry VIII at a tourna- ment held in Norfolk, England, in 1540, "for skill and bravery." The family motto is "In God we trust." The American branch of the family came across the Atlantic in 1630, under Winthrop and Salstansall, in the persons of William, Nicholas and Roger, brothers, of whom William and Nicholas settled at Watertown, Mass., Roger in New Haven, Conn., and they were well-to-do farmers. Dr. Knapp's great-grand- father, Joseph, was a soldier of the Revolutionary war, and his grandfather, Zeph- aniah, was in the war of 1812. 'They came from Columbia county, N. Y., in 1798, and settled at Lackawanna, Luzerne county, as farmers. His mother, also of Anglo-Saxon origin, was a daughter of Avery Hurlbut, carpenter and builder of Wilkes-Barre, a son of Col. Naphtali Hurlbut, of Hanover, who was sheriff of Luzerne county in 1825, and Olive (Smith) Hurlbut, daughter of Dr. William Hooker Smith, who filled a large space in the public estimation of Wyoming for nearly half a century. The Hurlbuts, who came to Luzerne county in 1779, are descendants of Thomas Hurlbut, of Saybrook and Wethersfield, Conn., who came to America in 1635 with Lion Gardiner. Dr. Knapp was educated in the public schools of Wilkes-Barre, and at LaFayette College, Easton, Pa., from which he received the

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degrees of Ph. B. and M. Sc., in course. In 1874 he began the study of medicine with Dr. George W. Guthrie, of Wilkes-Barre, and graduated from Bellevue Hos- pital Medical College, New York City, March 1, 1877; after spending a year in post-graduate study in New York, he settled in Wyoming, June 1, 1878, where he now resides. He is a member of the D. K. E. Fraternity, the D. K. E. Club of New York; Past Master of Lodge No. 468 F. & A. M., Wyoming; member and president (1888) of the Luzerne County Medical Society, member of the State Med- ical Society, the American Medical Association, and Fellow of the American Acad- emy of Medicine. He has contributed to the "Philadelphia Medical Times," and

is the author of a monograph on "Caisson Disease." In politics he is a stanch Republican. On June 30, 1880, Dr. Knapp married Cora Josephine, daughter of Joseph and Almira (Brown) Knapp, of Pittston, Pa., and they have two children: Elizabeth, born May 15, 1882, and Karl, born August 9, 1885. Dr. and Mrs. Knapp are members of St. Stephen's Protestant Episcopal Church, Wilkes-Barre. Since residing in Wyoming the Doctor has served a term as member of the borough council and of the borough school board, and is one of the county visitors of the State Board of Public Charities. He is an enthusiastic horticulturist, and is an earnest worker in the cause of education.

HOWARD KNAPP (deceased) was born in Taylorsville, Lackawanna county, Feb- ruary 18, 1836, and was a son of John and Electa (Wilson) Knapp. They reared a family of ten children, of whom our subject was seventh in order of birth. He received his education in the common schools and the Wyoming Seminary, Kingston, this county. After coming from school he was apprenticed to learn the trade of a carpenter, at which he labored until his death, which occured on March 8, 1884. Mr. Knapp was united in marriage, January 30, 1862, with Harriet, daughter of Eben and Martha (Schiffer) Foote, natives of Luzerne county. Their union was blessed with the following issue: Blanche, born April 13, 1864, married December 29, 1891 to John Wood, postmaster at Old Forge; Harvey, born March 10, 1866; Cora, born October 31, 1868; Mattie, born June 12, 1870; Delbert, born March 26, 1877; and Bruce, born March 25, 1879. Mr. Knapp was a member of the M. E. Church; in politics he was a Democrat, and held the position of school director for three years, from 1877 to 1880.

CHARLES HENRY KNELLY, contractor and builder, and proprietor of Conyngham Steam Planing-mill, P. O. Conyngham, Pa., was born in Sugar Loaf township, Luzerne Co., Pa., September 16, 1844. He is a son of Christopher and Caro- line (Troy) Knelly. His paternal grandfather was Christopher Knelly, whose wife was Catherine Wieland, both natives of Wurtemberg, Germany. He was among the pioneers of Sugar Loaf township, settling here in 1832; he was a farmer, and cleared and improved a farm and died there. His children who grew to maturity were: John, Christopher, Frederick, George Henry, Charles W., Rosina (Mrs. Jacob Beisblina) and Christiana (Mrs. Andrew Amann). Of these the father of our subject was a farmer, and cleared and improved a farm in Sugar Loaf township; in later life he removed to Columbia county, Pa., and died there. His wife was adaughter of John Troy, also a pioneer of Sugar Loaf township, where he cleared a farm and died; he was formerly of New Jersey. By her he had eight children: Daniel, Charles H., Esther (Mrs. John Heeb), William H., Lizzie (Mrs. Gabriel Rarig) Joseph, John and Izora V. (Mrs. John Hosler). Our subject was reared in Sugar Loaf township and educated in the common schools. He served in the Civil war, en- listing August 11, 1862, in Company F, One Hundred and Forty- seventh, P. V., participating in the battles of Chancellorsville and Gettysburg, and was with Sher- man on his March to the Sea, participating in all the engagements of that march. He was wounded at the battle of Gettysburg; taken prisoner at Little Black River, N. C., and after eleven days was exchanged at Libby Prison, and honorably discharged June 6, 1865. After the war he returned home and learned the carpenter's trade, which he followed seven years as a journeyman; then embarked as a contractor and builder, in which he has since continued, and has been proprietor of the Conyngham

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History of Luzerne County, Pennsylvania, with biographical selections, Part 154

Author: Bradsby, H. C. (Henry C.) Publication date: 1893 Publisher: Chicago : S. B. Nelson Number of Pages: 1532

Author: Bradsby, H. C. (Henry C.)
Publication date: 1893
Publisher: Chicago : S. B. Nelson
Number of Pages: 1532