Descendants of Peter Madsen Kling



Generation No. 1

1. PETER MADSEN3 KLING (LAUDS PETERSEN2, ANTONI HANSEN1) was born July 24, 1855 in Apenrade, Denmark, and died November 25, 1922 in Indianapolis, IN. He married DOROTHEA CHARLOTTE WILHELMINA CASPER September 25, 1879 in St. Louis, MO, daughter of FREDERICK CASPER and CHARLOTTE HEIDELBERG. She was born October 25, 1859 in St Louis, MO, and died February 24, 1948 in Ypsilanti, MI.

Notes for PETER MADSEN KLING:
The Danish Demographic Database http://ddd.sa.dk/DDD_EN.HTM

Kling, Peter Madsen, Landmand, 15, S. Charles, 495, 3/30/1871, , -, Slesvig, USA, , I6971K0913
Damm, Jørgen Joh., Landmand, 19, S. Charles, 496, 3/30/1871, , -, Slesvig, USA, , I6971D0511

Subject: Kling family tree
Date: Sun, 4 Jun 2000 12:27:23 -0400
From: "Chris Kling"
To: <gawne.home@verizon.net>
Dear Daphne:
I do not recall if I sent you this article about Peter Madsen Kling. If I have, please forgive the redundancy. If I haven't, well, I think you'll be glad to have it.
I was reviewing ROOTSWEB, and found your entries for KLING, Child A, Child B, Child C, and Child D, and realized that this article may help fill in those blanks for you.
The article, I believe, was compiled by Rasmus (Robert) Sorensen Kling, Sr. and sent scattered to the Klings that he had addresses to. I have added addendums and changes in red where he had them footnoted.
I hope that this helps you.
Chris Kling

Peter Madsen Kling was born in North Schleswig in Reis Township near town of Aabenraa Denmark, July 24, 1855. According to data in a family hymnal, he was the son of Larutiz Petterson Kling and Ella Madsen, both of whom were born in the same district, and the grandson of Antoni Kling and Peter Madsen.

As a boy he worked in the fields with his mother. One day a Gypsy approached them, asked a favor for which he would tell their fortune. He told Peter Madsen Kling that he would not stay there but would cross a great body of water (ocean), that he would not stay on the coast when landed, but would travel some distance inland, that he would marry a girl who lived where there was an iron fence around a large house, but the she did not live in the big house, but in a smaller one there. (According to Peter Madsen Kling’s wife, the house in which she lived when she met her future husband is in St. Louis, MO, and is a small one in back of a large house, and the lot is surrounded by an iron fence).

His father was a wagon maker and had a shop across the street from the family house. The family also had a barn and some animals. German soldiers were sometimes billeted in the barn and paid Peter to buy needles with which they broke blisters on their feet. (They wore no stockings on their feet but wrapped their feet in a style similar to the US soldiers of WWI and wore high top boots over the wrappings.

As related by Peter’s sons Milton Casper Kling, and Wilbert F. Kling,
When Peter was 16 years old, his mother sent him to the United States so he would not have to serve in the German army. Peter had no particular objections to the German army himself, and had worked in Germany one year. However, his father was killed while serving with the German army - or by the German army, and his mother was determined that her children would not be taken for service. He was ticketed for St. Charles, Missouri, when he left Denmark and sailed via Christiana, Norway, to Portland, Maine, arriving in 1870/1871. From Portland, he traveled via Montreal, Detroit, and St. Louis to St. Charles, Missouri, where he worked for two years in a country wagon and blacksmith shop.

In 1873 he went to St. Louis, MO, and worked on wagons, carriages, and busses, and then took up car building and became foreman in the Browne car company. At the organization of the St. Louis Car Company, he was manager and salesman and developed and expanded the original plant at Broadway Avenue until it was necessary to relocate at Baden to take care of the increased business.

According to the Elizabeth Daily Journal, in 18?? He went to Germany to instruct the Germans in assembling streetcars which had been manufactured by the St. Louis car company, of which he was by then the Superintendent. In a conversation the Kaiser boasted that the German army was better than the US army, that it was better trained. Peter Madsen Kling said "Yes, but Americans can shoot!" playing up the European idea of the way Americans had conquered the Indians. The Kaiser promptly challenged him to a shooting match. When he offered him a choice of weapons, Peter arranged to have his own gun among those used at the match. When offered a choice of weapon, he selected his own gun and won the match.

When he left the St. Louis Car Company in 1900, the employees presented him with a silver tray, the latter engraved with a picture of a streetcar. The family home was moved to Elizabeth, New Jersey, where father Peter Madsen Kling was associated with the John Stephenson Company as manager from August 21, 1900 to August 1905. When he left to become manager of the American Steel Car Works in Pittsburgh, PA. employees presented him with a gold watch, chain and charm set.

Peter Madsen Kling went to the Brooklyn Rapid Transit Company in 1909, however, the family was maintained in Elizabeth, NJ until 1914 when they moved to Laconia, NH where Peter Madsen Kling operated the Laconia Car Company and manufactured railroad cars used by the US Army in WWI. In 1910 the family moved to Indianapolis, IN where he was associated with the Indianapolis Body from 1919 - 1920 and engaged in several independent enterprises.

On September 25, 1879, he was married in St. Louis MO, to Dorothea Charlotte Wihlmina (Minnie) Casper, daughter of Johann Frederick Wilhelm Casper and Charlotte Heidelberg. Their children were: Louis August, Frederick Madsen, Peter, Wilbert, Raymond, Ella Anne, Mabel Ida, Elmer, a son, and Milton Casper.

A correction was noted by grand-daughter Dorothy A. Kling on July 25, 1971: Peter Madsen Kling had ten children,

Louis August Kling, born 3-14-1881
Frederick Madsen Kling, born 10-3-1882
Peter Madsen Kling, Jr., born 6-22-1884
Wilbert Frederick Casper, born 7-11-1885
Raymond John Kling, born 12-23-1887
Ella Anna Kling, born 11-11-1889
Mabel Ida Kling, born 6-5-1893
boy (premature) 4-1896
Elmer Kling (stillborn) 4-22-1900
Milton Casper Kling, born 9-5-1902

In Europe, Peter Madsen Kling learned to speak Danish, German, Swedish and Norwegian. English was added to his languages, of course, and he was supposed to have learned Italian, French and Spanish. For a while, he was excise commission of Elizabeth, NJ.

Trap shooting was his favorite sport, and he frequently won first place in tourneys. All of his children also participated in this sport at one time or another. In ____ he won a silver loving cup, now in possession of the Louis A. Kling family, a beautiful gold medal valued at approximately $1,000.00 was won for ??. It is now in the possession of Wilbert Frederick Kling and Mrs. Peter Madsen Kling.

Towards the end of his life his health failed, a stroke or a softening of the brain making him a semi-invalid and he died November 2?, 1922. He is buried in Rose Hill Cemetery, NJ, in a plot, which it is said, was given to him in return for his help in securing materials for construction of a crematory in the cemetery, the only crematory in NJ. The material was the grates for the furnace.

He was a 2nd degree Mason, taking two degrees in St. Louis. He did not proceed further because he was criticized for having a Roman Catholic employee, and he did not want business influenced by fraternal relations - only by merit. He later claimed to be an atheist.
     
Children of PETER KLING and DOROTHEA CASPER are:
2. i.   LOUIS AUGUST4 KLING, b. March 13, 1881, St. Louis, MO; d. August 20, 1944, Detroit, MI.
  ii.   FREDERICK MADSEN KLING, b. October 03, 1882, St. Louis, MO.
  iii.   PETER MADSEN KLING, JR, b. June 22, 1884, St. Louis, MO; d. Bef. 1902.
  iv.   WILBERT FREDERICK KLING, b. July 11, 1885, MO; d. March 1976, Whittier, CA.
  v.   RAYMOND JOHN KLING, b. December 23, 1887; d. Bef. 1902.
  vi.   ELLA ANNA KLING, b. November 11, 1889; d. Abt. October 31, 1918.
  vii.   MABEL IDA KLING, b. June 05, 1893; d. October 10, 1895 in St. Louis, MO.
  viii.   boy KLING, b. April 1896; d. Abt. April 1896.
  ix.   ELMER KLING, b. April 22, 1900; d. April 22, 1900.
3. x.   MILTON CASPER KLING, b. September 05, 1902, Elizabeth, NJ; d. April 20, 1972, Holliston, MA.

Generation No. 2

2. LOUIS AUGUST4 KLING (PETER MADSEN3, LAUDS PETERSEN2, ANTONI HANSEN1) was born March 13, 1881 in St. Louis, MO, and died August 20, 1944 in Detroit, MI. He married ELVERA CHRISTINE BROWN Abt. 1915, daughter of EMANUEL BROWN. She was born May 22, 1886 in Jersey City, NJ, and died May 26, 1954 in Detroit, MI.
     
Children of LOUIS KLING and ELVERA BROWN are:
  i.   REV. DOROTHY ANNA5 KLING, b. August 14, 1916, Cleveland, OH; d. March 19, 1997, Kalamazoo, MI.
  ii.   MABEL IRENE KLING, b. April 11, 1918, OH; d. December 21, 1982, Grosse Pointe, Wayne, MI.


3. MILTON CASPER4 KLING (PETER MADSEN3, LAUDS PETERSEN2, ANTONI HANSEN1) was born September 05, 1902 in Elizabeth, NJ, and died April 20, 1972 in Holliston, MA. He married ARDELLA TAYLOR DAVIS September 02, 1926 in Laconia, NH, daughter of CURTIS DAVIS and AUGUSTA TAYLOR. She was born November 18, 1901 in Franklin, NH, and died December 28, 1971 in Holliston, MA.

Notes for MILTON CASPER KLING:
White River Valley Hearld, Sunday, April 23, 1972

Milton C. Kling

Milton Casper Kling, 69, of Holliston Mass., onetime cashier of the Randolph National Bank, died Thursday afternoon, April 20, at the Framington Union hospital. He was taken suddenly ill at the Holliston-Hopkinton Federal Savings and Loan where he was treasurer. He had lived in Holliston 12 years.
He was born in Elizabeth NJ, Sept. 5, 1902, the son of Peter M. and Willemina (Casper) Kling. He graduated 1924 from Purdue University.
For a number of years he had lived in Laconia, NH, where he was employed as cashier at the Laconia National Bank. During his career he had held banking positions at Concord (NH) National Bank, Manufactures National Bank of Attleboro, Mass., and the Randolph (VT) National Bank.
Mr. Kling was a member of the Newcomen Society of Boston, the Federal Savings and Loan League, the Massachusetts and American Bankers associations and the Holliston Rotary Club.
He was married to the former Ardell Davis, and during the time, 1940 to 1944, that Mr. and Mrs. Kling and their two children lived in Randolph while he was cashier of the bank, he was a member of the Rotary Club, the University Club and the Brotherhood. Mrs. Kling died Dec. 28, 1971.
Mr. Kling is survived by one son, Peter M. Kling of Gilford, NH; a daughter, Mrs. Peter (Patricia) Lambert of Chestnut Hill, Mass.; a brother, Wilbert Kling of Yucca Valley, Cal.; five grandchildren, Kurtis Kling of Middlebury, P. Chase Kling, Julie, and Peer Kling of Gilford, and Elizabeth Lambert of Chestnut Hill; two nieces, the Rev. Dorothy Kling of Constantine, Mich., and Mable Kling of Grosse Point Farms, Mich.
Funeral services were held at the Wilkinson-Beane Funeral Home in Laconia, NH, Sunday afternoon with Rev. Floyd Kinsley of the Gilford Community Church officiating, assisted by the Rev. Dorothy Kling. Burial was in the Union Cemetery in Laconia.

Notes for ARDELLA TAYLOR DAVIS:
Manchester (NH) Union Leader - Thursday, December 30, 1971


Mrs. Milton Kling

Laconia - Mrs. Ardella D. Kling, 70, wife of Milton Kling, of 109 Donna Rd., Holliston. Mass. and a former resident here, died Tuesday at the Framingharn, Mass., Union Hospital.
She was a native of Franklin and had lived here for many years. She was a graduate of Plymouth State College, class of 1923, and taught at Bowman Street and Mechanic Street schools here for many years. Her husband was a former cashier at the Laconia National Bank. She retired last June from the Westwood, Mass., school system after 19 years. She had previously taught in Claremont and in Attleboro, Mass. She was a former member of the Laconia Congregational Church.
Besides her husband, the family includes a son, Peter M. Kling of Gilford; a daughter, Mrs. Patricia T. Lambert, of Chestnut Hill, Mass.; five grandchildren; and a cousin.
Services will be conducted at the Wilkinson-Beane Funeral Home, Friday afternoon by the Rev. Floyd M. Kinsley, pastor of the Gilford Community Church. Burial will be in Union Cemetery.
Friends may call at the Whipple Avenue entrance of the funeral home tonight.

     
Children of MILTON KLING and ARDELLA DAVIS are:
4. i.   PATRICIA TAYLOR5 KLING, b. September 17, 1929.
5. ii.   PETER MADSEN KLING, b. January 09, 1932, Laconia, NH.

Generation No. 3

4. PATRICIA TAYLOR5 KLING (MILTON CASPER4, PETER MADSEN3, LAUDS PETERSEN2, ANTONI HANSEN1) was born September 17, 1929. She married PETER B. LAMBERT Abt. 1952. He was born October 25, 1919 and died February 22, 1999 in Holliston, MA.
     
Child of PATRICIA KLING and PETER LAMBERT is:
  i.   ELIZABETH A.6 LAMBERT, b. September 30, 1971.


5. PETER MADSEN5 KLING (MILTON CASPER4, PETER MADSEN3, LAUDS PETERSEN2, ANTONI HANSEN1) was born January 09, 1932 in Laconia, NH. He met (1) CAROLYN in 1948 in Claremont, NH. He married (2) CYNTHIA GUILD February 21, 1953 in Gilford, NH, daughter of LAWRENCE GUILD and RHEA COLEMAN. She was born May 12, 1932 in Quincy, MA.
     
Notes for PETER MADSEN KING:
Amherst Class Notes - Winter 1999

Great outdoorsman: "I'm out-of-doors 365 days a year," Pete Kling said. "No storm stops me. My whole life is associated with the out-of-doors." Pete makes it a point even to eat outdoors as often as possible, and, in true outdoorsy fashion, adds, "I haven't worn a tie in thirty years." Well, for brief periods he has to stay inside. He describes himself as an independent contractor, "a salesman like Willy Loman on his last legs." Hardly. Pete sells from a catalog of more than nine thousand items, many of them health and beauty aids, alternative medicines, and much more. This supports his habit, "so I can alternate work and play." Pete suffered a heart attack at age forty-eight and decided it was time he emphasized play. "I've given up several careers, so I could pursue life's enjoyments." He lives in Concord, NH, which allows him easy access to hunting, fishing, skiing, sailing, whatever. "I skied sixty-three days last year." He has the advantage of being able to do a lot of selling by phone rather than in person within his New England territory. No retirement plans either. Pete shares his home with two Siamese cats, since his four children are all grown. They've produced six grandchildren for Pete to dote on. His oldest son Kurtis is also an independent contractor in the ski trade in Vermont. Son Chase is a stone mason. Daughter Julie (a Smith graduate) is an attorney and recently started a family at age forty-two. His other daughter Pier [Peer] lives in Albuquerque, NM. Pete is doing it "my way." "By choice I live in New Hampshire, doing vigorous outdoor sports, enjoying life."
     
Child of PETER KLING and CAROLYN is:
  i.   DAPHNE MCELROY6 KENT, b. March 25, 1951, Burlington, VT.
     
Children of PETER KLING and CYNTHIA GUILD are:
6. ii.   KURTIS MADSEN6 KLING, b. September 29, 1953, Northampton, MA.
7. iii.   PETER "CHASE" KLING, b. July 19, 1955, Laconia, NH.
8. iv.   JULIE GUILD KLING, b. November 30, 1956, Laconia, NH.
  v.   PEER L. KLING, b. April 21, 1958, Laconia, NH.

Generation No. 4

6. KURTIS MADSEN6 KLING (PETER MADSEN5, MILTON CASPER4, PETER MADSEN3, LAUDS PETERSEN2, ANTONI HANSEN1) was born September 29, 1953 in Northampton, MA. He married AMY NICKERSON September 09, 1978 in Wellfleet, MA. She was born May 20, 1953 in Weymouth, MA.
     
Children of KURTIS KLING and AMY NICKERSON are:
  i.   PETER MADSEN KLING, b. June 30, 1987, Burlington, VT.
  ii.   SENJA CROSBY KLING, b. May 08, 1989, Burlington, VT.

7. PETER "CHASE"6 KLING (PETER MADSEN5, MILTON CASPER4, PETER MADSEN3, LAUDS PETERSEN2, ANTONI HANSEN1) was born July 19, 1955 in Laconia, NH. He married SUSAN BUTLER Abt. 1977. She was born January 17, 1955 in Lincoln, MA.
     
Children of CHASE KLING and SUSAN BUTLER are:
  i.   ERNST M. KLING, b. Abt. 1982.
  ii.   KRISTEN A. KLING, b. Abt. 1984.

8. JULIE GUILD6 KLING (PETER MADSEN5, MILTON CASPER4, PETER MADSEN3, LAUDS PETERSEN2, ANTONI HANSEN1) was born November 30, 1956 in Laconia, NH. She married MARK NEJAME Abt. 1983. He was born April 13, 1957 in Waterbury, CT.
     
Children of JULIE KLING and MARK NEJAME are:
  i.   ELIAS T. NEJAME, b. January 19, 1993, Northampton, MA.
  ii.   ROBEY D. NEJAME, b. October 8, 1996, Northampton, MA.
Ancestors of Peter Madsen Kling