My Genealogy Hound

JOHN KLINE, farmer, Sec. 16; P. O. Le Roy; born in Franklin Co., Penn., Feb. 27, 1827, where he attended the common schools, until 15 years of age, when he learned the blacksmith trade, which he followed until 1850, when he went to California via the Isthmus, sailing upon April 11; he was shipwrecked upon a reef of the Caucus Islands, upon the 25th of May, but after a detention of one week, resumed his voyage, reaching San Francisco, Aug. 13, having been four months and two days upon the trip; he immediately went to mining upon his own account for eighteen months, meeting with fair success; he then formed a partnership with Sam Austin, and engaged in dealing in provisions and mining supplies, freighting the same from Stockton to the mines with their own teams; he followed this business until June, 1853, when he returned to Pennsylvania, and in October, 1853, came to Bloomington, McLean Co., Ill.; then to Le Roy, where he purchased a farm of 190 acres in Downs Township; he then worked at his trade in St. Louis, during the winter of 1853 and 1854; returning to Le Roy he rented his farm; then went to Pennsylvania for the summer, and in the fall returned to Le Roy, and after working at his trade for Messrs. Gilmore & Wright a short time, purchased the interest of Mr. Gilmore, continued in business with Mr. Wright until Dec. 25, 1855; in the spring of 1856, he purchased seventy acres of his present place, to which he has added by purchase, until he now owns 140 acres, upon which he has good farm buildings; he followed farming upon his present place from 1856 to 1858, when he again associated with his old partner, Mr. Wright, and continued the blacksmith trade, until 1862, since which time he has given his whole attention to farming; he was one of the first Aldermen of Le Roy, serving two terms; President of the Board of Trustees while Le Roy was a village; Township Trustee several years, and Supervisor of the Township. His marriage with Ellen Buck was celebrated Jan. 15, 1856; she was born in Indiana, Dec. 7, 1830; she was the daughter of Hiram Buck, one of the early settlers of McLean Co.; Mr. Kline has seven children now living, having lost two by death; the living are Lida, born Oct. 29, 1856, now attending the Wesleyan University, at Bloomington; Erwin, Jan. 1, 1858, living at home; Lenora, Sept. 1, 1859, now teaching at Le Roy; Clara, April 18, 1861, now teaching at Mansfield; Charles and Grace, twins, April 11, 1865; Harry B. and Irvin, twins, Aug. 4, 1869, the latter died in infancy.