BIO: H. H. KLINE, Centre County, PA

Contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by Patty Millich

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Commemorative Biographical Record of Central Pennsylvania: Including 
the Counties of Centre, Clearfield, Jefferson and Clarion: Containing 
Biographical Sketches of Prominent and Representative Citizens, Etc. 
Chicago: J. H. Beers, 1898.
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  H. H. KLINE.  Sometimes "Dame Fortune" seems to test to the utmost 
the courage and endurance of her followers before finally turning upon 
them with a smiling face.  In the life of Mr. Kline, now a successful 
merchant of Madisonburg, Centre county, there were surely hardships and 
losses enough to dishearten any ordinary youth, and his history 
furnishes a remarkable example of pluck and determination.
  Mr. Kline is still a young man, having been born May 15, 1863, in the 
Russian province of Finland.  His parents, who were of Jewish descent, 
were poor, and the death of the father when our subject was but two and 
one-half years old, left the mother and a family of three boys and 
three girls to make a livelihood for themselves.  Mr. Kline was the 
youngest son and fifth child, and began to make himself useful at an 
early age.  At eleven he took a small stock of notions, and started in 
business as a peddler, and so well did he succeed that at sixteen, he 
had saved $500.  This seemed to justify an enlargement of his 
operations, and in the fall of 1879, he purchased a horse and wagon and 
a stock of dry goods; but in a few weeks, after undertaking this new 
line, his entire outfit, including the horse and wagon was stolen from 
a country tavern where he had made a stop.  To a man such a loss would 
be severe, and it must have been overwhelming to a boy of his age and 
inexperience.  He had but $5.00 left, and his sad predicament excited 
so much sympathy among the peasants of the neighborhood that, 
notwithstanding their poverty, they raised $80, by popular 
subscription, and gave it to him. With this he bought a new stock, and 
again began carrying a pack on his back.  At the end of a year he had 
$205 saved, but he was then (in the fall of 1880) compelled to enter 
the Russian military service, in which he remained five years.  The pay 
was so small that his savings were exhausted before the expiration of 
his term, and when he was again free to enter business life he decided 
to seek, in the United States, a better chance than his own country 
afforded.  He had a brother, Julius Kline, in New York, who sent him 
$40 and a ticket, and thus provided for, Mr. Kline sailed from Hamburg, 
after thirteen days on the ocean landing in New York in the latter part 
of March, 1885.  For a time he made his home with his brother, a fish 
merchant in Hester Street, who employed him as a clerk, but city air 
and life proved uncongenial, and Mr. Kline began to long for the 
country.  At first the brother was unwilling to let him go; it was 
agreed, however, after a time, Mr. Kline should resume his former 
business of peddling.  He could not yet speak a word of English, but in 
June, 1885, he left New York with a stock of goods worth forty dollars 
which his brother had helped him to procure.  His destination was Kantz 
P.O., near Selins Grove, Snyder county, where a cousin, Mr. Milner, 
resided, but naturally the young stranger, ignorant both of the 
language and the country, had no little difficulty in finding the way 
there.  Mr. Milner, who was a merchant, encouraged him in his 
enterprise, and taught him how to greet people whom he would meet, and 
to say "good-bye" and although for some time Mr. Kline was apt to use 
the words of salutation in a hap-hazard way, he gradually became 
familiar with their use and added others to his vocabulary.
  Mr. Kline left Kantz P.O. with his pack on his back, and started for 
Centre county, but not being very strong the weight soon told upon him.  
To add to his discomfort he contracted ague, and in the spring of 1886, 
while at Madisonburg, he was taken seriously ill.  It being evident 
that he could not continue to carry a pack, some kind friends assisted 
him to get a horse and wagon.  The former cost $22.50 at a sale in Penn 
township, Centre county, and the wagon was purchased from L. B. Stover, 
of Madisonburg, for $15.00.  With this equipment, Mr. Kline made 

COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.  227

another start and fortunately no more reverses were met and in the 
spring of 1894, he had become so prosperous that he decided to open a 
store.  During the first year in the United States he bought his goods 
from Mr. Milner, as he had not the ready cash with which to purchase in 
New York to the amount that he desired; but later he readily secured 
loans from substantial citizens of this section and was enabled to buy 
his goods to better advantage.  On establishing himself in Madisonburg, 
Mr. Kline spent several months in settling up his accounts, and 
September 20, 1894, he opened a general store, where he has already 
built up a large and profitable trade.  His establishment is a model of 
neatness, comparing favorably with any in this section, not even 
excepting those in the largest towns. It speaks well for his honesty 
and fair dealing with the past that he could settle among his former 
patrons and command their custom, and his straightforward yet courteous 
manner wins the confidence of all who meet him.  Considering the short 
length of time that he has been in the locality, his rise to a place 
among the leading merchants of Brush Valley is extraordinary.
  Mr. Kline's prosperity has not caused him to forget his brothers and 
sisters in the old country. He has helped them in a substantial way,
sending several hundreds of dollars at various times.  Three of the 
family are now in the United States - a sister, Gussie, (Mrs. Jacob 
Goldstein) being a resident of Paterson, N. J.  On October 7, 1897, Mr. 
Kline was married to Miss Rachel Paris, of Altoona, Penn.  As a public-
spirited citizen he is interested in political questions, but he is not 
an active worker.  While sympathizing in the main with the principles 
of the Democratic party, he votes for the "best man" as occasion 
arises.