BIOGRAPHY: George K. KLINE, Cambria County, PA 

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From Wiley, Samuel T., ed. Biographical and Portrait Cyclopedia of Cambria 
County, Pennsylvania. Philadelphia: Union Publishing Co., 1896, p. 234-5
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George K. KLINE

GEORGE K. KLINE, one of the leading and most enterprising merchants of 
Johnstown, is a son of Wellington B. and Annie M. (Custer) Kline, and was born 
in Indiana, Indiana county, Pennsylvania, October 13, 1863.  The ancestors of 
George K. Kline are of German and French origin, but were among the old and 
early-settled families of Eastern Pennsylvania.  His grandfather, George K. 
Kline, was born in Berks county, March 12, 1807, and died in Indiana county on 
February 5, 1876, at the age of sixty-eight years.  His avocation was that of a 
merchant and hotelkeeper.
     Wellington B. Kline (father) was also born in Berks county in 1840.  Having 
been schooled to mercantile pursuits, he, in 1863, went to Indiana and became 
one of the founders of the house of Marshall & Kline, one of the oldest dry-
goods houses in that section of the State; this partnership continued 
uninterruptedly until 1894, when it was terminated by the death of Mr. Marshall.  
Upon that date he came to Johnstown and entered into a partnership with his son, 
the subject of this sketch, under the firm-name of W. B. Kline & Son.
     George K. Kline received his educational preparation for a business career 
in the public high schools of Indiana, from which he graduated in 1875, and in 
the Indiana State Normal school.  In 1878 he took a position as clerk in the 
house of Marshall & Kline, thus taking the initial step in the practical drill 
which has led up to his present commercial success.  With that firm he remained 
until 1891, when he came to Johnstown and embarked in the dry-goods business on 
his own account; later, in 1894, as stated above, he was joined by his father, 
and the firm-name became W. B. Kline & Son.
     The firm of W. B. Kline & Son is one of the largest and most substantial 
dry-goods houses in the county, they carry a full line of up-to-date dry goods 
and cloaks; occupy three floors, and give employment to a corps of twelve 
clerks.
     Mr. Kline is a consistent member of the Presbyterian church, and 
fraternally belongs to Indiana Lodge, No. 313, F. and A. M.; Zembabel Chapter, 
No. 162, R. A. M., of Pittsburg; Commandery No. 1, Knights Templar, and Syria 
Temple, Ancient Arabic Order Nobles of the Mystic Shrine, of Pittsburg.  He is 
also member of Wm. Penn Council, Royal Arcanum, of Indiana.
     On August 5, 1891, Mr. Kline married Sarah, a daughter of the late James 
Morley, of Johnstown, and to this marriage has been born one child, a son, James 
Morley, born May 3, 1892.
     George K. Kline is a young man of good business qualifications; is active 
and enterprising, and takes a lively interest in every move which has for its 
object the advancement of the material prosperity of the city of his adoption.  
He is an active member of the Board of Trade.