Andrew J. Klinger

ANDREW J. KLINGER.

What a privilege it must be to be able to look back over a successful and honorable career of eighty-four years. How much has happened in that span of life to those who have survived into the twentieth century — what changes, discoveries, inventions in the great outside world, and what equal progress has been made in the individual life of each one. In the hurry and stress of business, when every thought must be directed to the carrying on of necessary undertakings in order to sustain life and provide for the welfare of others, a man often has few opportunities to pause and remember the good gifts and compensations that line his way. In the natural course of events the time comes when these cares may be put aside, but in the comfortable retirement then entered upon he may find his happiest and most useful days. Who so well fitted to give advice and instruction as he, who so well able to point out the danger spot to others on the mountain he has already climbed, and, with the ripened judgment of years, who so well qualified to encourage as well as warn the younger generation. Thus the retired citizens of a community occupies an important place in its daily life. In this connection may be considered one of Greenville, Ohio's, most respected retired residents, Andrew J. Klinger, who, for many years, was connected with the milling industry. He was born in Preble county, Ohio, March 19, 1830, and is a son of Jesse and Elizabeth (Cassel) Klinger, and a grandson of Philip Klinger and of Henry Cassel.

Philip Klinger was born in Virginia, November 10, 1754, and was not only an industrious farmer, but was a patriot as well and served as a soldier in the Revolutionary war. He was married in Virginia to Barbara Ekes, who was born June 26, 1759. In 181 1 they came to Ohio and settled at Alexandria, in Preble county, and died there. They had twelve sons: John, Jacob, Henry, Philip, George, Samuel, Jesse, William, Peter, Michael, Nicholas and Isaac. Three of the sons married into the same family. Henry Cassel, the maternal grandfather, was also a native of Virginia and a farmer. He married in his own neighborhood and he and wife came to Ohio and were among the pioneers in Preble county. They had the following children: Daniel, Elizabeth, Catherine, Sarah, Rachel, Eliza, Rhoda, Allen and Samuel.

Jesjse Klinger, father of Andrew J., was born July 12, 1791, in Virginia, and was a boy when his parents came to Ohio and settled in Preble county. There he grew to manhood and followed farming. Some years after his marriage he moved to Indiana and located near Fort Wayne on a farm of one hundred acres, where he resided until death. He married Elizabeth Cassel, who was born July 4, 1799, and died in 1859. They were members of the Lutheran Church. They had six children: Daniel, Joseph, Peter, Elizabeth, Andrew J., and Samuel. There is but one survivor, Andrew J., the subject of this review.

Andrew J. Klinger was seven years and six months old when his father died and after this calamity the mother returned with her children to Preble county, Ohio, and in 1838 moved across the line into Darke county, her farm being located near Verona. There Andrew grew up, an industrious farmer boy, attending the schools of his district during the winter sessions. When eighteen years of age he exhibited signs of the business enterprise, which later led him into large undertakings, becoming his brother Daniel's partner in the butter and egg trade, continuing in the same for some years at West Baltimore, Gordon and Ithaca, Ohio, living at Gordon for five years, afterward moving to Ithaca. There he engaged in farming for two years and then bought a grist mill which b* operated for five years. He then left Ithaca and bought a mill at Winchester, Ind., which he conducted for fourteen months. In the fall of 1867 he sold out anl moved to Arcanum, where he ran a mill until 1871, in March of that year coming to Greenville. At this time he was interested in a mill at Dawn, Ohio, and also in a farm near Arcanum. In 1876 he purchased the Turner warehouses and built a mill in Greenville, which he operated for many years on Martm street, just north of the D. & U. Railroad. In 1885 he erected his handsome brick residence at No. 322 Devor street, where he has lived ever since. He retired from active business life in 1912.

[This passage is too damaged in the scanned book to reproduce. See the original book.]

To Andrew J. Klinger and wife eight children were born: Sarah E., Frances, Laura, Alma, Cora, D. O., Watson, J. and Peter Wert. Frances married E. C. Porterfield and they live at Greenville and have one daughter, Lois, educated in the schools of Greenville and college at Granville. Laura married William Thomas and they live at Ithaca, Ohio, and have one daughter, Marie. She married Percy Hamilton of Ithaca and has a son Jasper W. W. Hamilton. Alma married H. M. Walsh of Dayton, Ohio, and they have three children: Robert K., Agnes C. and Kenneth. Cora who is now deceased, was the wife of Alva Harless. D. O. is a resident of Greenville. He married Onda Peffly and they have two children Katherine and Kenneth. Watson J. lives at Dayton. He married Cora Burch and they have two children, Ralph and Richard. Peter W. has his home in Dayton. He was married first to Harriet Sater, who died leaving twc daughters, Mildred and Helen. His second marriage wa& to Susan Dills.

Andrew J. Klinger has; always been identified with the Republican party since its organization, believing in the principles it has stood for. Both he and wife are members of the First Baptist church at Greenville and is one of the oldest of its board of trustee..

Watson J. and Peter W. were educated in the scfiook of Greenville and later graduated from the Polytechnic school of Terre Haute, Indiana.

Mr. Klinger cast his first ballot for President for Gen. Winfield Scott, in 1852. Then, in 1856, for Fremont. In 1860 for Lincoln and has supported the Republican nominee at every national election since.

As printed in History of Darke County, Ohio (1914). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.