Henry Kling and his wife Margerete, both from the town the book spells Donstadt, crossed in a sailing vessel in 1853, bought forty acres of government land, and owned 208 acres when Henry died in 1883; their son Henry Jr. built the home place up to 637 acres, and the youngest, William G., farmed it. John and Elizabeth Kling came from Hessen-Darmstadt with ten children in 1870, spent a few months in St. Clair County, Illinois, and bought 200 acres in Elk Creek Township early in 1871. Their sons Philip and William J. became landowners in their own right, Philip retiring to Newton and William J. moving to Palo Alto Township in 1901, and their daughter Margaret married Fred Hendricks. Every fact below is cited to the public-domain 1912 county history.
Earliest in the record
Henry Kling Sr. and Margerete (German) Klingborn 1816Most recent in our records
William G. Klingborn 1873Each number matches a section below. Tap a name to jump to that person.
Immigrant farmers, Elk Creek Township
Landowner, Elk Creek and Fairview Townships
Daughter of Henry Kling
Farmer and Hereford breeder on the home place
WILLIAM G. KLING.
Among the substantial men whose labor and influence has given impetus to the general material improvements of Jasper county in years gone by and who today occupies no insignificant place in the esteem of the community in which he resides is the worthy gentleman whose name forms the introduction to this sketch. He has been content to spend his life right in his home locality, wisely deciding that this favored section of the great Hawkeye state was as well if not better suited for the pursuit of agriculture than any other. Then, too, he has the home atmosphere always about him and the advantages of the prestige established by his honored progenitors whose lives redounded in a general way to the production of much good to the people embraced in the scope of this biographical compendium.
Mr. Kling was born on the farm where he now resides in Elk Creek township, Jasper county, Iowa, on September 5, 1873, and, as already intimated, he grew to manhood here, assisted with the general work on the home place and spent his winters in the schools of his district, when he became of proper age. He is the son of Henry, Sr., and Margerete (German) Kling, both natives of the town of Donstadt, Germany, the father born on September 16, 1816, and the mother on January 24, 1828. They grew up and were married in the fatherland and there began life on a farm. In 1853 they emigrated to the United States in an old-fashioned sailing vessel, the voyage requiring forty-two days. They located in Jasper county, Iowa, bought a farm of forty acres from the government and established a home. Prospering through hard work, Mr. Kling later purchased one hundred and twenty acres more where the subject of this sketch now resides, and he subsequently added forty-eight acres, owning two hundred and eight acres at the time of his death, on December 19, 1883. His wife died on March 20, 1874. They were both members of the Lutheran church. Their family consisted of six children, namely: Henry, Adam (lives in Monroe, Iowa), Mrs. Eliza Peery, Mary, Mrs. Margaret Schnug and William G. (of this review), he being the youngest of the family.
The subject attended school at Galesburg and when ten years of age he was driving a team on the farm for his father and has ever since been engaged in farming the home place. In connection with general farming he raises Hereford cattle. He inherited thirty-five acres of the home place and farms it now for his brother Henry, who bought out the other heirs. He feeds a large number of hogs annually. Henry Kling, Jr., who makes his home with the subject, was born March 25, 1847, in Darmstadt, Germany. As stated, Henry bought out all the heirs of the home place except William G., of this sketch. He has added to his original purchase until he is now the owner of six hundred and thirty-seven acres in Elk Creek and Fairview townships. He is supposed to be retired from active work, but it seems hard for him to keep out of the harness and he still does a great deal of work, though the subject has the principal working of his land. Henry has remained unmarried. He knew Jasper county in its pioneer days and experienced the privations of that period. He has been very successful in a business way and is well known and well liked.
William G. Kling was married on December 10, 1902, to Mamie Stregle, who was born in Iowa on November 20, 1880, the daughter of John and Mena Stregle, early settlers of Jasper county. Two children have been born to the subject and wife, namely: Freeman, born September 20, 1903, and Hazel, born November 16, 1905.
As printed in the source1. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.
Immigrant landowners, Elk Creek Township
Daughter of John Kling; wife of Fred Hendricks
Retired farmer, Newton
It is always an inspiring thing to learn something of a good man's history. Life is so checkered and uncertain a thing that when we find an individual who has at all times been clean and steadfast of purpose, and loyal and true to the best that was by nature his, it is a pure delight to tell of him. Such a man is Philip Kling, who resides as a retired farmer in Xewton.
Philip Kling was born in Hessen-Darmstadt, Germany, January 1, 1859, and came with his father to America in October, 1870, settling in St. Clair county, Illinois. Here the family-remained for three months, after which they removed to Jasper county, Iowa, where they have since remained. Two hundred acres of land were purchased in Elk Creek township in Jasper county, and with this holding they began farming and stock raising. Mr. Kling's father, John Kling. and his mother, Elizabeth (Rodth) Kling, were both natives of Germany and were splendid examples of the fine, hardy stock of that great empire. The father died in June, 1889, at the age of eighty-five, the mother in November, 1875, the age of fifty-two.
Ten children in all came to America, all of whom are still living and all of whom own their own homes. Seven of them, including the subject of this sketch, reside in Jasper county. They are: Adam J., who resides in Sully, this county, is a retired farmer; George, residing in Hickman, Nebraska, is a shoe merchant; Catherine Reinheimer, wife of George Reinheimer, a farmer residing in New Athens, Illinois; Margaret Hendricks, wife of Fred Hendricks, a farmer residing near Galesburg, Jasper county; Henry resides in this county, near Kellogg, and is a prosperous farmer; John, residing in Jasper county, is a farmer; Philip, the subject of this review, is a retired farmer living in Newton; Mary Sheen, wife of Daniel Sheen, resides on a farm near Shemington, Wisconsin; William J. resides on a farm in Jasper county; Frederick, who resides in St. Louis, is employed in a wholesale house.
On April 4, 1889, - Klig was united in marriage to Lena W. CastrOf, a native of Jasper county. She is the daughter of Frederick Castrof, of Jasper county, who was born in Pommern, Gemiany, March 1, 1846, and who died in Jasper county, December 13, 1902. Her mother, Augusta (Andress) Castrof, was a native of the same place. She came to America when about seven years of age and is still living near Killduff, Jasper county, making her home with her two sons, Frederick and Edward Castrof.
Mrs. Kling is one of four living children, namely: William, the first born, first saw the light August 26. 1870; Margaret Snell, wife of J. W.
As printed in the source1. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.
Farmer and stockman, Palo Alto Township
WILLIAM J. KLING.
The qualities which have made Wilhaiii J. Kling one of the prominent and most successful of agriculturists and stock men of I'alo Alto township, Jasper county, have also brought him the esteem of his fellow citizens, for his career has been one of well directed energy, strong determination and honorable methods. He works under a superb system, keeps everything in its proper place and does not disregard small details. Such methods as he employs always insure a fair if not very large measure of success in all lines.
Mr. Kling was born December 25. 1863, in Germany, the ninth child in a family of ten children born to John and Elizabeth (Rotdh) Kling, both natives of Germany. John Kling in his later years followed farming for the most part and in this was very successful. He came to America with his family in 1870 and for a few months they stopped in St. Clair county. Illinois, where some of their relatives were residing, but early in the year 187 1 they pushed on farther west and located in Jasper county. Iowa, Mr. Kling buying two hundred acres of land in Elk Creek township. Here he prospered, becoming one of the township's most extensive land owners, and as a child married he gave each a certain amount of land. At the time of his death he owned three hundred acres, but had quit farming ten years previously. His death occurred on June 16, 1899. at the advance age of eighty-seven years, his wife having preceded him to the grave in 1875 at the age of fifty-two years. Their ten children all grew to sturdy manhood and womanhood.
William J. Kling attended the public schools of Elk Creek township and soon after coming of age his father gave him eighty acres of land. A few years later ( 1890) he purchased seventy acres more. He now has one of the choicest farms in the township, comprising two hundred and sixty acres, eighty acres of which is in section 1 and one hundred and eighty acres in section 12, adjoining. He has brought his land up to a high state of improvement and cultivation. He has a fine, modern home and excellent buildings of all kinds. He keeps a good grade of live stock and is in every respect one of our most enterprising farmers.
On April 9, 1891. Mr. Kling was united in marriage with Wilhelmina Andreas, daughter of F. C. and Wilhelmina (Castor f) Andreas, both natives of Gennany. She was born in Elk Creek township. Jasper county, Iowa, on January 15, 1870. Her parents were both children when they came to America; they became well established here. Mr. Andreas being one of the leading farmers of Elk Creek township. Mr. Andreas died March 18. 191 1. Of the ten children born in his family. all survive.
As printed in the source1. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.
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