Person Page - 219

     Peter Klinger was born on 2 November 1838.^1,2 The 1860 Census for Lykens Twp, Dauphin County, lists a "Peter Klinger" age 22 as head of a household that includes "Catharine Klinger", age 64, listed as "widow" (this is probably William's mother), and a William Klinger, age 20, who is listed as "insane" (this is probably Peter's brother).³ Some sources suggest that Peter Klinger and Margaret Anna Muench were married in 1860, Pillow, Dauphin County, PA. Peter Klinger married Margaret Anna Muench, daughter of Jacob DeWald Muench and Salome Meyer, on 7 March 1861, Lykens Township, Dauphin County, PA.^4,5 At the time of the 1870 Census, Peter and his wife "Rebecca" were living in Lykens , Township, Dauphin County, PA. He was a farmer. Their household included 4 children -- Francis, Fietta, Sevilla, and Sallie -- along with Peter's brother William.⁶
     The 1870 Census for Berrysburg, Lykens Twp., Dauphin County, PA, lists Peter, age 29, a farmer, as head of the following household: Rebecca, 24, F, keeping house; Francis, 8, M; Fietta, 6, F; Sevilla, 5. F; Sallie, 2, F; William Klinger, 27, M, farm labor; and Louisa Umholtz, 18, F, domestic servant.⁶
     The 1880 Census for Lykens Twp., Dauphin County, PA, lists the following household: "Peter" Klinger, M, 40, farmer; Rabeca, F, 32, wife, housekeeping; Francis W., M, 18, son, at home; Fiette E., F, 16, daughter, at home; Emma, F, 14, daughter, at home; Sallie, F, 12, daughter, at home; Catharine, F, 10, daughter, at home; Cora, F, 8, daughter, at home; George W., M, 3, son, at home; Chas. M., M, 2, son, at home; William Klinger, M, 37, servant.⁷ By 1880, Peter and Rebecca's household included 8 children -- Francis W., Fiette E., Emma, Sallie, Catharine, Cora, George W., Chas. M. -- and William Klinger.⁷ According to the 1900 Census, Peter and Marguerite were living in Lykens Township, Dauphin County, and had been married 38 years. They had given birth to 9 children, all of whom were then living. Peter was a farmer. Their household included 2 children, George F. and Maude E., both of whom were then single.⁸
     The 1900 Census for Lykens Twp., Dauphin County, PA, lists Peter, age 60, born Nov. 1839, married 38 years, as head of the following household: Marguerite, wife, F, 57, born Dec. 1842, married 38 years, mother of 9 children, 9 of whom were surviving in 1900; George F., son, 22, born Sep. 1877, single; and Maude E., daughter, 12, born, Nov. 1877, single.⁸ By 1910 Peter and Margaret had been married 50 years and had given birth to 9 children, all of them were then living. Their household included their son George.⁹
     The 1910 Census for Lykens Twp., Dauphin, lists Peter, age 70, male, married 50 years, as head of the following household: Margrette, wife, F, 67, married 50 years, mother of 9 children, 9 surviving; George F., son, 34, single, farm labor; and Lottie Seitzel, 15, single, servant.⁹ Peter Klinger died on 27 May 1915, Lykens Township, Dauphin County, PA, at age 76.^2,1 He was buried on 30 May 1915, at Grandview Cemetery, Pillow, Dauphin County, PA.^10,11,12,13
Newspaper obituary:
Peter Klinger, an old resident of Pillow, died Thursday of last week and was buried Sunday in that place. Deceased was an old soldier and member of the G. A. R.
The Standard (Lykens, Pennsylvania), 04 Jun 1915, Fri, Page 1.¹³
His estate was probated on 7 June 1915, while his will was dated 8 August 1910.¹⁴