North Star Township Biography
WILLIAM H. KLECKNER
Source: BIOGRAPHICAL MEMOIRS OF GRATIOT COUNTY, MICHIGAN published by J. B. BEERS & CO., Chicago, 1906
WILLIAM H. KLECKNER, a retired farmer of North Star township, Gratiot county, Michigan, was born in Tuscarawas township, Stark county, Ohio, October 4, 1840, a son of Daniel and Mary (Kerstetter) Kleckner. His father was a native of Pennsylvania, and his mother of Stark county, Ohio, and both died in Summit county, that State, leaving three children: Joseph M., of Akron, Ohio, superintendent of the poor house, was a school teacher for sixteen years; William H.; and Marietta, widow of Alfred Sorrick, resides in Summit county, Ohio.
William H. Kleckner was reared in Stark county until the age of thirteen years and then accompanied his parents in their removal to Summit county, where he was educated and reached maturity, trained thoroughly as a farmer. In the county named he married July 20, 1864, Rebecca Row, born September 27, 1847, in Summit county, daughter of Jacob and Elizabeth (Hartong) Row, the former of whom was a native of Pennsylvania and the latter of Ohio. They both died in Summit county.
William H. Kleckner continued to live in Summit county for seven years after his marriage and then removed to Wayne county, where he lived eight years, thence returning to the old homestead in the former county. After three years, in March, 1884, he came to Gratiot county, Michigan, and purchased a farm in Section 16, North Star township, on which he has resided ever since. Mr. Kleckner owns a fine farm of one hundred and forty-two acres and has made many substantial improvements thereon. He carried on a general line of farming, until he retired from active work and transferred the labor to younger hands.
Mr. and Mrs. Kleckner have had eight children, namely: Elmer A., living on the homestead; Warren W., cashier of the Chicago & North Western Railway at Wausau, Wisconsin; Clara M., wife of William Clark, of Jackson, Michigan; Cora E., wife of Frank Lott, of North Star township; Ada B.; Oliver F., a jeweler of Miland, Michigan; Mary, who died aged about three years; and Charles M., a meat dealer at North Star, Michigan. Mr. Kleckner has never taken any active part in politics, but has always stood up for the principles of right. He has been a member of the school board of North Star township for many years, overseer of highways, and has held other minor township offices. Mr. and Mrs. Kleckner are active members of the United Brethren Church, in which he has filled the office of trustee for thirteen consecutive years, and has been superintendent of the Sunday-school for nineteen years.
Created on ... October 09, 2001