My Genealogy Hound

PROF. GEORGE P. KLUGH, principal of the New Cumberland public schools, and one of the well known educators of the Keystone State, was born March 30, 1867, at Franklintown, York Co., Pa., a son of Henry and Eliza (Knisely) Klugh.

Henry Klugh was born April 30, 1826, in York county, a son of George Klugh, who was a native of Lancaster county, Pa., was of German extraction, and died at the home of his son in the fall of 1876, aged eighty-seven years. He married Hannah Arnold. The Knisely family also came from Germany and is well known in Lancaster county. Henry Klugh taught school for some fourteen years and then followed carpentering and contracting, so arranging his work that his winters could be given to teaching and his summers to this work. He also taught music, and was far better educated than the average man of his day, and much beyond the average in mental ability. In 1856 he married, at Franklintown, Miss Eliza Knisely, who was born in Franklin township, York county, daughter of Samuel Knisely, a farmer of that locality. The children of this union were: Mary Catherine, Mrs. Ephraim Brame, of Heidlersburg, Adams county; Samuel H., an undertaker and justice of the peace at Dillsburg, who married Lizzie Sollenberger; George P.; Jerre J., a teacher in Dillsburg; Hannah Jane, who died aged seven years; and William K., agent for the Cumberland Valley Railroad at Shiremanstown, who married Lillie Leathery.

In 1876 Henry Klugh removed to the old home farm, which he had purchased, and lived there until his death. May 25, 1895. His widow still survives and resides at Dillsburg, aged sixty-eight years. She is a valued member of the Lutheran Church, as was her husband. In his early political life he was a Republican, but later he became identified with the Prohibition party. Prof. Klugh was nine years of age when his father moved to the farm in Franklin township. He always enjoyed the best educational advantages of the localities in which the family lived, completing his course at the age of eighteen years. Since then his record has been that of a successful educator almost continuously. His first school was at Gochenour, Washington township, York county; one year later he went to the Northern school, in Franklin township, where he continued four years; then to Fruitville school, Manheim township, Lancaster county. Two years later he was called to the Beavertown schools, York county, teaching seven winters and six summers, and he taught one season in the Hamme’s school, Carroll township, York county. On the day his labors closed at this school Prof. Klugh came to New Cumberland and closed the term at the intermediate school. After serving two more terms in the same department he was elected principal, was re-elected in 1903, and also in 1904,

In 1895 Prof. Klugh was married, at Boiling Springs, Cumberland county, to Miss Julia Spangler, a daughter of Porter P. and Mary (Kunkle) Spangler, both of Boiling Springs. Four children came to this union: Claud, born Sept. 15, 1896; Beatrice, Nov. 30, 1898; May, May 10, 1901 (died May 28, 1901); and Ada, Sept. 29, 1903.

Prof. and Mrs. Klugh are prominent members of the New Cumberland U. B. Church, in which he is a member of the official board, and he is secretary of the Quarterly Conference. He is the superintendent of the adult department of the Sabbath-school, and is also a member of the choir. In politics he is identified with the Republican party. Fraternally, he belongs to the Jr. O. U. A. M.