My Genealogy Hound

TOBIAS A. KLINE. A beautiful farm, which although small, is finely improved, is the home of the above-named gentleman, who deals in produce, butter, eggs and poultry, having a place in the market at Dayton which he attends Tuesdays and Saturdays. His estate comprises twenty-one acres of rich land in Clark County, occupying a portion of section 19, Bethel Township. The career of Mr. Kline affords conclusive evidence that a large estate is not necessary to secure independence, but that vim and good judgment can win prosperity from a small acreage.

The subject of this sketch is a son of Christian D. Kline, a native of Lancaster County, Pa., who was reared on a farm and learned the trade of a tailor. He carried on a shop in Springville, Susquehanna County, until 1842, when he removed to Ohio. He located in Medway, Clark County, opened a tailor-shop, and carried it on for fifteen years. He then bought eleven acres on section 19, Bethel Township, and began farming, adding about ten acres at a time, until the farm amounted to seventy-five acres of well-improved land. It adjoins the town of Medway, and furnishes a comfortable home for his declining years. He is now seventy-nine years of age, and is living a quiet life, enjoying the fruits of his industry. He belongs to the Mennonite Church. He married Miss Fredericka Allbright, with whom he lived happily until 1871, when she was called from time to eternity. She had borne four children, our subject being the third in order of birth — Amos, the first-born, is a farmer in Bethel Township; Anna, Mrs. Hershey, died in 1861, and Christiana when eight years old. Amos served nearly four years during the late war, being a member of the Forty-fourth and Eighth Ohio Cavalry.

The mother of our subject was born near Amsterdam, Holland, and coming to America when a young girl with her brothers and sisters, they were sold in Philadelphia to pay for their passage and were thus separated. Three sisters lived there, and a brother and sister in Huron County, Ohio. They had lost track of each other for thirty years, when by the merest chance they learned of each other’s location, by hearing the Allbright name from a traveler who knew the brother.

The birth of our subject took place in Springville, Lancaster County, Pa., June 18, 1841, and he was brought to the Buckeye State when eleven months old, the journey being performed by boat down the Ohio River and canal to Dayton. He was reared and educated in Medway, remaining at home on the farm until May, 1864, when he enlisted in the One Hundred and Fifty-third Ohio Infantry, being assigned to Company E. After being mustered into the service at Camp Dennison, the command was sent to Virginia, where for some time they skirmished with bushwhackers. On July 4 they had a fight with the rebel general, McCoslin, on the south branch of the Potomac, and on August 2d took part in the battle of Greene Springs against Gen. Johnston. September 10, 1864, Mr. Kline was mustered out and honorably discharged at Camp Dennison, returning thence to his home.

On November 15, 1866, in Medway, Mr. Kline was united in marriage with Miss Catherine Garnish, and the young couple took up their abode in Evansville, Ind., where the husband engaged in the manufacture and sale of confectionery. A year later they returned to Medway, and settled where they yet reside. Mr. Kline purchased six acres of land, built upon it and began handling produce for the Dayton market. He has added fifteen acres of tillable land to his first purchase and raises some grain, although his principal crop is tobacco, three to six acres being devoted to that crop, on which he has made money. The dwelling is an attractive one, and every convenience in the way of useful buildings is to be found; the barn is 40x60 feet, affording ample accommodation for stock and fodder. During the twenty-one years in which Mr. Kline has attended the Dayton market, he has missed but four Saturdays. Although a shrewd buyer and salesman, he always pays the farmers the best of market prices for their produce, in which he deals extensively. In 1883 he started in the general merchandise business in Medway, under the style of Kline & Schatz, and carried on a successful trade until 1886, when the firm closed out and dissolved partnership.

The wife of Mr. Kline was born in Cumberland County, Pa., and is the daughter of Emanuel and Catherine (Tanger) Harnish, the father a farmer there. She is an excellent housewife, a kindly and intelligent woman, and a faithful wife and mother. She has five children — Mollie, Rickie, Walter, Forrest and Webster — all at home. Mr. Kline has been School Director for seven years, and being well informed and the possessor of remarkably good judgment, he has been a most acceptable servant of the people in this capacity. His political allegiance is given to the Republican party, and in his religious belief he favors Universalism. He is one of those genial, straightforward and honest men, who are liked by everyone they meet, and he fills a leading position in the community.