The Dickinson press., 1898-01-29
c. II. KuNEfELTER DEAD.
Falls and Breaks His Neck,
'' Ending a Busy Life at
the Aqe of ST..
CROWDS ATTEND FUNERAL At OPERA HOUSE.

SAS oSSAuSAtdA uSdtuO VI ,NAldl 1So II. NllNc"
felter which occurred at IS minutes of
10 o'clock Sunday night, January %. He
fell through the stair railing, in the rear
of the St. Charles, about midway between
the upper and middle landing. The fall
was 10 or IL feet and was from the east
side. 1t is not known whether he was
ascending or descending the stairs when
he slipped and, fell. Mrs. Klinefelter
was at the hotel kitchen door when the
shocking accident happened. She heard
the noise caused by her husbands mis-
step, saw an object falling through the
air and heard the dull thud on the frozen
ground. She was IS or 20 feet away and
supposed that a man had fallen but did
not know who and gave the alarm for
help. Doctors were summoned and all
pronounced death to have been instanta-
neous. A few bruises were visible on
the right side of the head.
Mr.. Klinefelter wa born in Pennsylva-
mia, Dec. 22, 1886, making his age at
death 81 years, n month and n day.
The most of his early life was spent in
Baltimore. At the age of 20 he moved
to St. Paul, where Mr.. and Mrs. Kline
felter lived for IS years, moving to Dick
inson the fall of 1881. From that time
he has been most closely identified with
the growth, development and business
interests of Dickinson. He was public
spirited and was always planning some
enterprise that the town needed.
He built the Willard House which was
opened to the public August FL, 1883, and
he remained its proprietor until 1858
when Frank kim took the property.
That year the Klinefelter opera house, a
magnificent 3-story building, was COM
pleted by Mr.. Klinefelter. The struc-
ture, the finest of its kind west Of James
town, proved to be. in advance of the
needs of the town, and in September,
1896, it was decided to remodel the opera
house into a hotel, which change was ef-
fected early in the year 1897. Mr..
Kl~inefelter then organized the Dickin-
son Opera House Co. of which he was
manager, which company erected the
present opera house.
He was the first county assessor. In
the fall of 1891 he put the ball rolling for
brick yards for the town where were
manufactured the brick for Dickinson's
beautiful public school building, the
brick cottages on Hannaford street and
other brick edifces of the place.
Being one of the very first settlers Of
the place, Mr.. Klinefelter formed a wide
acquaintance and will be remembered
by almost every settler within 50 miles
of Dickinson and the ranchmen for an
100 miles roundabout knew him we'll. He
was we'll informed, courteous and always
to be found at his post.
MI. and Mrs. Klinefelter had a family
of 10 children, of whom 8 are living
M. F. and Charles Klinefelter, Annie
Nellie, Mabel, Hattie, Grace and Alice
With the exception of Mrs. Hattie Raw
son Of Glendive, Mont, all the children
are living in Dickinson. Deceased
has two own sisters living, Mrs
P. Hammond Of St. Paul, and Mrs. Lip
py of Seattle. His own mother dice
years ago and his step.mother is now liv
ing in st. Paul, his father having dice
within a few years. while a resident o
this vicinity. David Klinefelter, former
ly Of Dickinson, now of Anaconda, is
half-brother Of d~eceased;G George of Clan
cey, Mont, Frank of Seattle, Louis of St
Paul. and William of this place ar.
half-brothefs; Mrs. Charles Lippy 20
Dickinson, and Mrs. Charles Morelius o
ST. Paul are half-sisters.
The funeral was held in the oper'
house Wednesday afternoon and wa
very largely attended by people from
town and other parts Of the county. Rev
U.G. Rich conducted the services, whicI
were impressive and music was furnishe,
by the Congregational choir. The inter
ment was in the Dickinson cemetery. Al
the children, with the exception Of Mr.
Paul Hagerman who was critically il
followed their fathers remains to thei
last resting place..
The pail bearers were, Dan Manning
&c. Thompson, H. L. Dickinson, J. {
Campbell, Frank Lish and A. T. Crowl.
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