Francis Albert and Alexander Klinger

Exploring history’s mysteries, one leaf at a time.

This post could really be called the tale of two brothers. Born to David Schwalm Klinger and Barbara Merkel Wiest in Klingerstown, Pennsylvania they had a similar start in life. Francis was the sixth child and second son while Alexander was the youngest of the nine children. Officially established in 1807, Klingerstown was named after Francis’ and Alexander’s ancestors who settled in this part of Dauphin and Schuylkill counties in the late 1700s. Alexander chose to stay in Klingerstown while Francis, two of his sisters and one of his brothers decided to take advantage of the Homestead Act and move to Iowa.

The Homestead Act, passed in 1862 and granted adult heads of families 160 acres of land at minimal cost provided they stayed on that land for five years (U.S. National Archives and Records Administration, 2022). The idea behind this legislation was to settle the western frontier and cut down on poverty.

So, by the late 1880s, Francis along with his younger brother Otis had settled in Fairbank, Iowa. Not far from Fairbank is a crossroads of four counties. It was at those county crossroads that Francis established a general store which proved to be so popular that another village sprang up near the site. That village was named Klinger, Iowa after Francis and still remains a small city in Bremer county today. Francis and his wife Ellen Augusta Miller, had three children in Iowa. Francis owned two general stores, one in Klinger and the other in Fairbank. He also managed a lumber yard.

Francis was involved in politics, serving on the town council of Fairbank for a number of years. He even served a brief stint as mayor just prior to his death of a heart attack on December 9, 1942 at the age of 77.

Politics played a role in his brother Alexander’s story as well, just not in quite the same way. Alexander decided to stay in Klingerstown where he married Barbara Sedora Williard and had two daughters.

On August 28, 1911, Alexander’s life took a terrible turn. At that time he was self-employed as a house carpenter. On the afternoon of August 28th, he went to a tavern in Erdman. It was at this tavern and after quite a few drinks, that he and his friend Samuel Erdman got into a heated exchange about the primary election. According to witnesses, Samuel struck at Alexander twice before Alexander kicked him in the stomach. That kick to the stomach was a fatal blow and Alexander was charged with murder.

On October 7th, a distraught Alexander tried to take his own life while awaiting trial by cutting his wrists with a piece of broken mirror. Having recovered his faculties, Alexander plead guilty to voluntary manslaughter and received a sentence of 18 months in county jail after witnesses testified that the fatal kick was administered in self defense. He was released early for good behavior on December 31, 1912 having served 15 months of his sentence.

After his release from prison, he bought a farm and worked the land for the remainder of his life. Alexander Klinger died on November 1, 1945 at the age of 70 and is buried in Klingerstown.

Reference

Harrisburg Patriot. (1911, September 2). Gratz fugitive placed in jail. Harrisburg Patriot.

Harrisburg Patriot. (1911, September 7). Klinger is held on murder charge. Harrisburg Patriot.

Harrisburg Patriot. (1911, October 12). Held for murder, attempts suicide. Harrisburg Patriot.

Harrisburg Patriot. (1911, October 26). Timetable of homicide cases. Harrisburg Patriot.

Harrisburg Patriot. (1913, January 11). Swears off after release from prison. Harrisburg Patriot.

U.S. National Archives and Records Administration. (2022). Homestead Act (1862). https://www.archives.gov/milestone-documents/homestead-act