My Genealogy Hound

JOHN A. KICHLINE, ex-Deputy County Sheriff of Northampton County, and a resident of Bethlehem, does the largest business of any Justice of the Peace in this city. Mr. Kichline was born in Richland Township, Bucks County, January 30, 1835, being a son of Jacob Kichline, who was also born in that locality, as was his father, who bore the given name of John. The great-grandfather of our subject, Andrew, came from Germany prior to the War of the Revolution, and with his two brothers, Peter and Wilhelm, located about 1768 in Bucks County, Peter settling near Easton, while Andrew located at Kichline, there engaging in farming and hotel keeping. The remaining brother, Wilhelm, returned to Germany and became a general in the German Army. The three brothers all took part in the War of the Revolution, being in the patriotic army.

Jacob Kichline, our subject’s father, was a farmer, owning a part of the old homestead in Richland Township, and in 1839 removed to Lower Saucon Township, where his death occurred in 1854. In politics he was a Democrat, and in religious affiliations belonged to the Reformed Church. His wife, formerly Christiana Schleifer, was a native of Richland Township, and a daughter of a farmer. After having been blind for seventeen years, she departed this life in Richland Township, being over eighty-nine and a-half years of age. Of her seven children who grew to maturity, only four survive.

Growing to man’s estate on his father’s farm, John A. Kichline passed his early years in Lower Saucon Township, giving his father the benefit of his services. He remained on the homestead until the spring of 1855, when he went to Philadelphia and entered the wholesale house of Recksilver & Co. In the fall of that year, however, he returned to the old home and engaged in teaching school in Bushkill and Bethlehem Townships.

Mr. Kichline was married in 1858, in Bethlehem Township, to Miss Rebecca Long, daughter of Michael and Catherine Long, by whom he had seven children, six of whom are living: Alaric A., who is agent for the Metropolitan Life Insurance Company in Bethlehem; Sabra, who became the wife of Jeremia Ziegenfuss, and is now living at home; Minnie S., Mrs. Rhoad; and Charles R., Emma R. and Ellen T, who are at home. Michael Long, Mrs. Kichline ‘s father, was a shoemaker by trade.

A year after his marriage Mr. Kichline was appointed Deputy Sheriff under Sheriffs Heckman and Hower, and removed to Easton. While occupying this position he had plenty to do, as there was then a bad element in the county, but he was fortunate in escaping injury, and was faithful to the trust reposed in him. In 1864, after resigning his position, he returned to Bethlehem Township, and taught school for one term near Shimers Station, and afterward engaged in farming. Subsequently he served as Constable and continued to live in Lower Saucon for four years. In 1884 he became a resident of Bethlehem, and was appointed and later elected Deputy Constable. In August, 1888, he was appointed by Governor Beeber as Justice of the Peace to succeed Justice C. M. Anstett, and in the spring of 1889 was elected Justice of the Peace of the Third Ward to serve for a period of five years. He was re-elected in 1894 for the succeeding five years, having his office at No. 209 North Main Street. Since 1891 he has been Assessor of the ward, to which position he was chosen by election, and in 1894 was elected Borough Clerk. In the Third Ward he has never had any opposition, having been returned by a good Democratic majority. For five years he was a School Director of Bethlehem Township, and for one year has been President of the Board. In politics he votes with the Democratic party, and fraternally is a member of the Mystic Chain, of which he is a Past Officer. Religiously he is in sympathy with the Reformed Church, which he regularly attends. Mr. Kichline numbers many friends in this city, for he is genial and courteous in his treatment of all, and thus readily wins commendation.