John A. M. Kline

John A. M. Kline was born on February 1, 1849, in Berne, Albany County, New York. His parents were German Immigrants, who had arrived in the U.S. about a year prior to his birth. He was the youngest of six children. 
     His father died when he was eleven. This placed the family in poverty, limited Kline’s ability to attain schooling, and caused him to start working at an early age. He spent four years working at a farm for 3 dollars a month. He then spent two years working at a hotel in Schuyler County. At 17, he became a clerk at a dry goods store in Middleburg, New York. At 19, he started working at a general store in Rensselaerville, New York.  He was the store’s top salesman for two years.
      Kline moved to Western New York in the early 1870s. Over the next few decades, He lived in various towns in Yates and Steuben counties. 
     Turning his attention towards pursuing an education, in September 1871, he started studying at Starkey Seminary in Yates County. He graduated two years later.  He then spent six years studying at Oberlin College and, occasionally, teaching, until graduating in 1879.
        Kline married Frances A. Bassett of Barrington, New York on December 24th or 25th, 1879. They had two children: Allen Bassett Kline, who was born in 1883 and apparently named after Frances’ father Allen Bassett, and J. (John) Carlton Kline in 1888.  
     In September 1879, Kline founded the Dundee Preparatory School, in Dundee New York. He taught at the school, and served as the school’s principal and administrator, until 1891. In 1891.  Dundee Preparatory School was replaced by Dundee Highschool in 1891. 
     From 1891- 1895, Kline worked at the State Mutual Life Insurance Company. 
     Kline became significantly involved in reformist activities while living in Yates County, particularly in temperance activism. He began speaking at various temperance and prohibitionist meetings throughout the region. A favorite topic of his was speaking about the American Brewers Association, it’s negative effects on society, and it’ corrupting influence on the nation’s politics. 
     Kline soon became involved with the Prohibition Party. In 1888, he ran as the Prohibition Party candidate for state assembly in Yates County’s 1st District, against Republican candidate William A. Carson and Democratic candidate Henry M. Huntington. The election was won by Carson. In 1890, he was the Prohibition Party candidate for county school commissioner in Yates County. In the campaign, he reportedly spent $12.00 on printing and postage. 
     In the same year, he was part of a group of temperance supporters who sought to purchase the Dundee Record and turn it into a prohibitionist newspaper. This may have become the basis for the Dundee Home Advocate, which he played a key role in creating.  By 1895, the Dundee Home Advocate had merged with an Elmira based prohibitionist newspaper named The Facts.   In 1897, Kline became president of the group producing The Facts. 
      Kline was one of the representatives from Yates County at the New York Prohibition Party state convention in 1891. In 1893, he delivered at address at the Yates County Prohibition Party convention. In 1895, Kline was nominated to run for state senate. 
    Kline became a professor at Keuka College/ Keuka Institute in 1895; he was also appointed Principal of Keuka College/ Institute. The news of his appointment was met with praise from The Facts, which described Kline as one of the “best known educators and reformers in the state”, a man who had worked his way from being a poor boy “through the snows of difficulty to his present and enviable standing”, and who “possesses the peculiar power to impress himself upon the young with whom he comes in contact”. 
     Kline managed practical aspects of the college and its staff, while the college’s founder, Rev. George Harvey Bell, administered the college as its president. As part of his work, Kline attended meetings with other principals in local area. 
      Mrs. Kline taught English and Art at Keuka and was at one-point head of its Art department.
      John Kline was selected as the Party’s nominee for governor of New York on June 30, 1898, at its state convention in Syracuse.  Throughout this campaign, he spoke at various temperance and prohibitionist meetings across the state. Kline emphasized the importance of opposing the alcohol industry and its corrupting influence on politics. He called on voters in New York to stand up against its influence. For instance, an article in the Brooklyn Daily Eagle on one of events reported, “The speaker told of the corruption he thought existed in both the Democratic and Republican Parties. It is time, he said, for another party whose purpose was pure to take hold of affairs. When the whiskey trade can step in and make and unmake presidents it was time for the people to interfere.” 

     Kline received 18,383 votes (1.36% of the total statewide vote), and came in 4th place. His strongest results tended to be in counties in Western and Central New York, particularly among the southern tier counties. He also had above average results in various counties in the Adirondacks and Northern New York. His percentage of votes tended to be lower in New York City, as well as several of the more urban counties in the state.  
     Kline continued to be a prominent figure in the New York Prohibition Party after 1898, making speeches at local Prohibition Party events.  He served on the state executive committee in 1900. 
     Near the end of 1900, Kline and his family moved from Jerusalem, New York to Euclid, Ohio, where John became employed by the A.L. Bassett & CO., a Cleveland-based company that sold hats. In 1906, he reportedly purchased a share of the business.  (Ed. note -- this may have been his father-in-law's firm.)
     Kline was active in the Ohio Prohibition Party. In 1904, he was the Prohibition Party candidate for representative in Ohio’s 20th congressional district. He received 587 votes and 1.19% of the total vote. 
     Alumni of the old Dundee Preparatory School held their first annual reunion on September 12th, 1914. . Kline attended as the guest of honor and was one of the speakers. The alumni continued to hold annual reunions for at least the next several years.
     Kline became seriously ill with diabetes in 1912. His nephew, Dr. Scherer of Penn Yan, New York, traveled to Cleveland to assist with his treatment.
     John Kline died on November 17th, 1917. He is buried in Knollwood cemetery, in Mayfield Heights, Ohio.

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-- Contributed by Jonathan Makeley

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