BIO: William B. KLING, Huntingdon County, PA

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Commemorative Biographical Encyclopedia of the Juniata Valley: 
Comprising the Counties of Huntingdon, Mifflin, Juniata and Perry, 
Pennsylvania, Containing Sketches of Prominent and Representative 
Citizens and Many of the Early Settlers.  Chambersburg, Pa.: J. M. 
Runk & Co., 1897, pages 181-182.
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  W. B. KLING, Nossville, Huntingdon county, Pa., son of Jacob and 
Nancy J. (Clayton) Kling, was born in Tell township, Huntingdon county, 
October 9, 1847. Jacob Kling was born in Perry county, Pa., in 1825, 
and in 1832 went to Huntingdon county to live with his grandmother. He 
married in Tell township, and after his marriage settled on a farm 
which he purchased and on which he still lives. He is a strong adherent 
of the cause of Democracy. They had a family of nine children, seven of 
whom are still living. Several years ago Mrs. Jacob Kling died. The 
family are members of the Methodist church.
  W. B. Kling spent his youth in Tell township, attending school, and 
until his twenty-first year he stayed at home and worked on the farm. 
In 1870, his twenty-third year, he enlisted in the regular army at 
Carlisle for a term of five years. Having been assigned to Company M, 
Fourth Cavalry, he joined his regiment at Fort Concho, Tex., and spent 
one year and three months at San Antonio, Tex. In May, 1872, he was in 
active engagements with Indians in the Santa Rosa mountains in Mexico. 
He was then with General Mackenzie on the scout into Mexico in which 
the treaty between the United States and that country was broken, by an 
armed party having crossed the boundary line. This was in May, 1872; it 
nearly caused war between the two countries. Mr. Kling was promoted to 
corporal in 1874, and was discharged at Fort Concho, Tex., April 7, 
1875. Returning home, he taught school for three years. In 1878 he 
built a store room in Nossville, but it soon proved too small for his 
increasing business, in consequence of which he tore it down and began 
in his present place. He has a full line of general merchandise and a 
constantly growing trade. True to his father's example and precept, Mr. 
Kling is a staunch supporter of the Democratic party. He has read 
extensively on the much agitated issue between monometallism and 
bimetallism. He filled the office of auditor for the township so 
satisfactorily that he was re-elected for a second three years' term. 
Excepting one term of four years, he has been postmaster continuously 
since 1877.
  Mr. Kling is happily endowed with versatile talents, and has many 
sources of enjoyment. His "bump of construction" makes him skilful in 
repairing watches, clock, organs, sewing machines, in short, almost 
anything that can need repairing. As a hunter, he has scarcely his 
equal in the valley. He is very proficient in music, a ready "sight-
reader," and a performer on the cornet, violin, guitar, mandolin, 
organ, flute and fife; he has utilized this talent by teaching vocal 
music, and by giving his services for ten years in the Sunday-school 
choir. Mr. Kling is also fond of traveling; he has visited nearly all 
the principal cities of the United States, besides several Mexican 
cities. He was present at the dedication of the monumental tomb of 
General Grant, April 27, 1897.
  William B. Kling was married in 1876 to Bella, daughter of Thomas 
Gardner. Three of their children died in infancy; those surviving are: 
Esley, in the store with his father; Olive, at home; Violet; Rosetta; 
and Elmira. The family attend the Methodist church.

1850 Tell Township, Huntingdon County census -
Jacob Kling, 27  
Nancy Kling, 21  
William B. Kling, 3