S. Peter Kline

S. PETER KLINE,* one of the successful farmers and representative citizens of Cherokee County, who owns the south half of section 13, township 33, range 24, in Crawford township, was born May 18, 1849, in Frederick County, Maryland, and is a son of David and Charlotte (Warrenfeltz) Kline.

Jacob Kline, the grandfather, was born in Germany and established the family in Maryland. Our subject's parents lived in Frederick County the whole of their lives, the father surviving to the unusual age of 98 years. They had a family of 12 children, namely: Zephaniah, Hezekiah, Joshua, Silas, Daniel, Rosa, John, Julia, S. Peter, Sarah, Mary, and Clara. Of these, 10 still survive and one brother, Joshua, is a resident of Scammon, Kansas.

Our subject spent his boyhood and early youth in his native place, where he attended school. When 20 years of age, he left home to look out for himself, the family being so large that the home farm could not offer any chance for the sons to secure any capital of their own. He went to Miami County, Indiana, and there worked one year with his brother Hezekiah in getting out shingles, and then hired out to a farmer for a season. An attack of ague sent him home to recuperate, but in the following spring he went into the lumber regions in the Alleghany mountains and in the following spring returned to Indiana, locating in Warren County. There he worked two seasons on a farm and remained in Indiana until 1876. Following an enjoyable visit at the Centennial Exposition at Philadelphia, he went to Maryland to visit his parents, but in November again left home, and spent the winter of 1876-77 chopping wood in Ogle County, Illinois, returning then to a former employer in Indiana, where he remained until coming to Cherokee County, in 1880. He purchased, first, the southeast quarter of section 9, township 33, range 24, in Crawford township, but one year later removed to his present farm, selling the former one to his brother John, who still owns it. In the comparatively short time which has passed since Mr. Kline located on his present farm, wonderful changes have been brought about. The little log cabin he found on the property has given place to a handsome residence, with all the commodious buildings which denote the prosperous condition of a Kansas farmer, and Mr. Kline may be justified in taking pride in his beautiful shade trees and bearing orchards, for his hand sowed the seeds and nurtured their growth.

In August, 1881, Mr. Kline married, in Cherokee County, Ethel Truxel, who was born in 1861, in Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania, and is a daughter of Eli and Hannah Truxel, both now deceased, who came to Kansas in 1867 and located in Shawnee township. Mrs. Kline's two brothers are: Benjamin, a farmer in Crawford township; and Thomas, who lives in California. Mr. and Mrs. Kline have four sons, all born in Cherokee County: James M., born September 24, 1883; Simon, born November 10, 1886; Silas Edward, born January 25, 1892; and Claudus, born June 20, 1894.

In former days, Mr. Kline was identified with the Democratic party, but now, facing so many important issues, he prefers to vote independently. He is a member of the A. O. U. W. organization at Crestline and also belongs to the A. H. T. A. He is well known and much respected in Crawford township.

History of Cherokee County Kansas and its representative citizens, ed. & comp. by Nathaniel Thompson Allison, 1904, transcribed by Carolyn Ward, instructor from USD 508, Baxter Springs Middle School, Baxter Springs, Kansas, 6-27-97