George K Kline
GEORGE K. KLINE, of Kittanning, undertaker and funeral director, now devotes himself entirely to his business interests, though for a number of years he was a practicing dentist. His father, the late Dr. Martin L. Kline, was one of the most successful dentists of the borough until an accident to his right hand made it necessary for him to give up work at his profession, after which he was engaged in the livery and undertaking business until his death.
The Klines have been in this part of Pennsylvania for many years. Solomon Kline, great-grandfather of George K. Kline, was a farmer by occupation. Some years after his marriage he moved from Indiana county, Pa., to Clearfield county, where he bought a tract of land, spending the remainder of his days in its cultivation and improvement.
Martin Kline, son of Solomon, was born in Indiana county, but grew up in Clearfield county, where he resided to the end of his days. He followed the lumber business as well as farming, and was a prosperous and useful citizen. Politically he was a Democrat, and in religious connection a Methodist. He married Rachel Owen, who was born and reared in Clearfield county, daughter of John Owen, and to them were born twelve children.
Martin Luther Kline, son of Martin and Rachel Kline, was born June 8, 1847, in Clearfield county, Pa., and was there reared on a farm. He received his early education in the common schools of the home neighborhood. When he went to work he followed lumbering on the Susquehanna river for seven years, after which he took up dentistry, studying with his uncle, Dr. Owen, of Kittanning, whose partner he became in 1870. This association lasted three years, at the end of which time he purchased his uncle's interest, practicing alone until 1888. He then took Dr. E. H. Wright into partnership, and by their skillful and conscientious attention to patrons they built up a large patronage, from which Dr. Kline retired after the accident on July 4, 1895, in which he lost the thumb and end of second and third fingers of his right hand, the injury being caused by a giant fire cracker. Selling out his interest in the dental office to Dr. F. L. Gould, he then bought the interest of Mrs. M. E. Finley in the livery stable, which did quite a large business, having twenty-five horses, and he also engaged in undertaking. His son George was in partnership with him, the firm being known as M. L. Kline & Son. Dr. Kline continued his connection therewith until his death, which occurred Jan. 9, 1907. He was a member of the Royal Arcanum, Knights of Honor and B. P. O. E. and a Democrat in politics, in which, however, he took no active part beyond voting.
On March 14, 1872, Dr. Kline married Martha E. Hamlin, daughter of John Hamlin, of Juniata county, and she survived him a short time, dying in November, 1908. Dr. and Mrs. Kline are buried at Kittanning. They had three children: George K.; Lulela H., who married Walter McEwen, and died in May, 1907; and Beulah Blanche, married to Frederick P. Steele, of Indianapolis, Indiana.
George K. Kline was born at Kittanning Dec. 22, 1872, and there received his common school education. He took a course in dentistry at the University of Pennsylvania, graduating in 1899, after which he followed the practice of his profession for five years at Kittanning. For several years before his father's death he was associated in the undertaking and livery business with him, buying the Heilman interest in the firm of Kerr & Heilman in February, 1904, thus becoming a member of the firm of Kerr & Kline. His father who had bought the Mrs. M. E. Finley barn on Market street, near the "Reynold's House," bought Kerr's interest, and about a year and a half after the death of his father George K. Kline sold the same, retaining, however, the undertaking business. Later he purchased the furniture and undertaking establishment of A. T. Vosburg and took a partner, the firm becoming Kline & Campbell. After two years they sold out and engaged in the livery business about one year, until George K. Kline sold his interest to Mr. Campbell. When E. W. Campbell retired from business Mr. Kline opened his present establishment, July 1, 1912. For a period of six years George K. Kline was undertaker for the Pennsylvania Railroad Company, and as such had charge of the burial of the victims of the Kelly Station disaster. He is now in the undertaking business at No. 152 South Jefferson street. He has been a member of the Pennsylvania Funeral Directors' Association since 1908, and fraternally he holds membership in the B. P. O. Elks, I. O. O. F., Loyal Order of Moose, P. H. C., Foresters, and Tribe of Ben Hur - all at Kittanning. He has belonged to Hose Company No. 3 of the volunteer fire department for twenty-one years, having been a charter member, and is an official of the Kittanning Fair Association, of which he has been a member and director for six years; his fellow officers in that organization are O. N. Wilson, president; Pat. Pheafy, vice president; R. D. Heilman, secretary; John W. Rohrer, treasurer; and Alex. McCollough, all of whom are directors, but Mr. Rohrer. Politically Mr. Kline is a Democrat, but not active in the party, and he is a member of the Lutheran Church.
On Feb. 9, 1898, Mr. Kline married Mollie C. Smith, who was born in Wayne township, this county, Sept. 4, 1872, daughter of Daniel and Lavina Smith, who live on a farm there. Three children have been born to this union: Martin L., who died in January, 1901, when two years old; George H., who attends Kittanning high school, and has a private teacher during the summer months; and Phoebe Lucile, who is attending public school;. The family home is at No. 251 North McKean street, Kittanning.
Source: Pages 721-722 Armstrong County, Pa., Her People, Past and Present, J.H. Beers & Co., 1914
Transcribed October 1998 by Joyce Sherry for the Armstrong County Beers Project
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