KLINGAMAN, Josiah F. 1840-1928

KLINGAMAN, BUEGHLEY, BLANCHARD, FERGUSON, HAFFA, WELLER

Posted By: S. Bell
Date: 2/25/2013 at 00:32:21

[Waterloo Evening Courier, Monday, December 24, 1928, Waterloo, Iowa]

J. F. Klingaman, Ex-Chief of Police
Here, Dies in California at Age of 88

Held Fourteen Public Offices
in Waterloo; Funeral
Here Friday.

Josiah F. Kllngaman, formerly chief of police, overseer of the poor and superintendent of Associated Charities, died at 6:30 p. m. Saturday at the home of his daughter, Mrs. P. L. A. Ferguson, at Hollywood, Cal., age 88 years. He was a veteran of the Civil war and early resident of Orange Township.

Funeral services were held today at Hollywood. Tonight Miss Minne Klingaman. eldest daughter, will leave with the body for Waterloo, arriving Thursday forenoon by way of the Great Western railway. The body will be taken to Petersen Bros. undertaking parlors, where brief services will be held at 10:30 a. m. Friday. Burial will be in Elmwood.

News of death came yesterday in a telegram from Mrs. F. C. Blanchard, another daughter, to J. W. Lichty, 260 Hammond Avenue.

Mr. Klingaman began to fail rapidly early in the fall and for some time before he died he was practically helpless. Death came from a natural wasting of energies, due to advanced age.

Probably no other man In Iowa held such a variety of public offices as did Mr: Klingaman. In addition to those listed above he served as constable, truant officer, police officer, court bailiff, humane officer, school director, township trustee, road superintendent, street commissioner, milk inspector and tax collector. In all of them he gave industrious, faithful, intelligent and
sympathetic service.

Mr. Klingaman was a charter member of First Brethren church, having united with that denomination In Orange Township in June, 1877. He was also one of two surviving charter members of Robert Anderson post, O. A. R.

Whether in adversity or prosperity, sickness or health, in dreary or clear weather, Mr. Klingaman was the master optimist. He was always jovial and friendly. He probably had a wider acquaintance while overseer of the poor and chief of police than any other man in Waterloo. He took an especial interest in boys and while driving a horse. and buggy about his work groups of children would follow in his wake. His buggy in summer and cutter in winter would be loaded down with these juvenile friends.

For 60 years Mr. Klingaman was a friend of the Waterloo Courier. In all that time he was an intimate acquaintance of the editor and members of the news staff. He contributed many interesting items and his letters were always looked forward to with eagerness, for they always contained the element of surprise. His contributions continued until he could no longer see to write and his hand became too weak to guide his pen. Mr. Klingaman left with the Courier editor several months ago an outline of his biography. A similar copy, with full directions as to funeral arrangements, was left with J. W. Lichty.

Wounded in Civil War-
Born in Somerset County, Pa., Aug. 6, 1840, Mr. Klingaman grew to manhood in that state and on Sept. 4, 1861, he enlisted in company C, Fifty-fourth regiment, Pennsylvania volunteers. In his three years of service he was in numerous engagements and on May 15, 1864, he was wounded in the battle of New Market, Va.

While in army camp near Romney, Va., he set out to walk 46 miles to vote, for Samuel. J. Curtin, war governor of Pennsylvania.

It was necessary on this trip to swim the Potomac River.

Mr. Klingaman came to Waterloo Jan. 7, 1865. On April 1, 1866, he married Miss Sallie Bueghley daughter of Elder E. K. Bueghley, a pioneer of Orange Township.

Fought Fires, Grasshoppers

In 1884 Mr. Klingaman moved his family to Kimball. Brule county, Dakota territory. For several years drought destroyed the crops. Prairie fires swept over the county, and Mr. Klingaman was burned out. Grasshoppers added to the distress. In 1890 Mr. Klingaman moved back to Waterloo in a covered wagon, driving his small herd of cows, which represented practically his life possessions. Undaunted, altho then 50 years of age, he began life anew with the same cheerfulness that he displayed in his time of prosperity.

While chief of police, which position he held for six years, Mr. Klingaman originated the curfew ordinance which sent young children off the streets at an early hour each evening. The fire bell rang the curfew each evening.

He was one of the first advocates of good roads and while chairman of the board of trustees in Orange Township he purchased and operated the first elevated road grader in this part of the state. He did the first grading on the C. G. W. right of way four miles southwest of Waterloo.

In politics Mr. Klingaman was an ardent Republican. He voted for every presidential candidate of the party from Lincoln to Hoover.

Since 1915 Mr. Klingaman had lived with his daughters in Minneapolis, Cedar Heights and Waterloo in the summer and in Long Beach and Los Angeles in the winter.

Mrs. Klingaman died at Long Beach, Cal., Dec. 5, 1920. A son. George G., died in Waterloo of typhoid fever March 20, 1896, and Jessie, a daughter, died in infancy.

Surviving are the following children: Walter E.. Garner. la.; Miss Minnie, Los Angeles; Mrs. F. C. Blanchard, Lajord, Sask.; Mrs. Ferguson and Mrs. Jane Haffa, Hollywood. Four grandchildren survive as do a sister, Mrs. Z. H. Weller, and a brother, Elmer E. Klingaman, both of Los Angeles.

Many other relatives and close friends reside in California or are there to spend the winter.

Black Hawk Obituaries maintained by Karen De Groote.
WebBBS 4.33 Genealogy Modification Package by WebJourneymen