In the book's own words, not ours, with obvious scanning errors fixed. Families often supplied these stories to the publisher, so check key dates.
From Past and present of Jasper County, Iowa (1912)
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.
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To Mr. and Mrs. Kling four children have been born, namely: Elma, born October 25, 1892; Ada, born July 14, 1895 i Leonard, born November 21, 1898; Lorene, born Novemler i, 1902.
[This passage is too damaged in the scanned book to reproduce. See the original book.]
As printed in Past and present of Jasper County, Iowa (1912). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.
The printed record stops around 1912. We trace your line from there down to you, with every source cited.