William Christoph Kleine

References [https://www.gonzalestx.travel/business/w-c-kleine]

W. C. KLEINE Location(s): 604 N. College Street Gonzales, TX 78629 Category(s): Attractions Driving / Walking Tour Email to a friend William C. Kleine was born January 12, 1872, in Gonzales, Texas, the son of August and Babette Pfeuffer Kleine who came to Texas from Germany. August was a maker of fine furniture who established a thriving business in Gonzales. His store was located on the northwest corner of what is now Texas Heroes Square. William graduated from Texas A. & M. College and worked with his father for many years until he withdrew and went into the real estate business. He married Julia Bingham Trigg of Lockhart January 17, 1900, and they had two sons. Julia, the daughter of Bingham Trigg of Missouri and Fannie Field Trigg of Alabama, was born on October 7, 1875, after the family moved to Austin. Kleine built this one-story Prairie-style home in 1907. Large rooms, with eleven-foot ceilings, are accented by natural finish longleaf and curly pine trim. The floors are quarter sawn longleaf pine except in the master bedroom where they are oak. Three sets of nine-foot French doors and two sets of nine-foot pocket doors create a great feeling of openness throughout the house. Period light fixtures, stained glass, and bath fixtures were added as part of the restoration in 1997. The original kitchen was replaced with cabinets custom made from longleaf pine and beaded wood panels. On June 24, 1920, William was rabbit hunting and his shotgun accidentally discharged and killed him.

• Updated from FamilySearch Family Tree via wife Julia Bingham Kleine (born Trigg) by SmartCopy: Sep 23 2015, 0:40:19 UTC
• Reference: Ancestry Genealogy - SmartCopy: Oct 10 2020, 10:42:45 UTC

Father of William Christopher Kleine and Bingham Trigg Kleine

Son of Augustus Kleine and Babette Pfleugger Kleine

Gonzales Inquirer July 1, 1920

Meets Tragic Death
W. C. Kleine Goes Rabbit Hunting and His Lifeless Body Found Near a Wire Fence With Dead Rabbit and Gun Nearby.
A tragedy that shocked the entire community, plunging one of its prominent families into the deepest bereavement, and casting universal sorrow over the town, occurred early Thursday morning, probably between 7 and 8 o'clock, when the lifeless body of W. C. Kleine, lifelong resident and prominent citizen of Gonzales, was discovered on the North Loop near the old gun club field at the northeast extremity of the loop with a gunshot wound in the stomach, a dead rabbit by one hand and the gun lying under the fence near which the body was found.
It was discovered by W. K. Lorraine, who was passing in her car, hurrying to town to notify citizens, a number rushed out to the scene of the tragedy. Physicians, upon examination were of the opinion that Mr. Kleine had been dead probably twenty minutes when he was found.
According to those who went to the scene, he was found lying on his back by the fence as if just having gotten through, going toward his car found standing in the road a dead rabbit, apparently in one hand, while the other clutched at the spot where the shot entered his body. The gun, a 12-guage automatic, lying under the fence by the body, indicated that in some way it was accidentally discharged as he was dragging it through the fence. Mr. Kleine had been in the habit of going out after rabbits, which the family used to feed to their flock of chickens, and it was one one of these little hunting expeditions that he set out shortly before 7 o'clock, we understand, planning to return in ample time to take his eldest son, William to the station to see him off on the 8:50 Southern Pacific train to Annapolis, where he was to enter the Naval Academy, having recently received word as to his appointment to a cadetship of Congressman Mansfield. The family had become anxious over his prolonged absence, and it was at this stage of affairs that news was brought to town of the tragic accident.
The body was taken to Kleins Undertaking Parlors where it was prepared for burial previous to its removal to the family residence.
Surviving Mr. Kleine are his heartbroken widow, formerly Miss Julia Trigg of Lockhart, two sons, William and Bingham, and one brother, Walter Kleine of this city.
Two brothers George and August Kleine, preceded him to the great beyond some years ago.
Mr. Kleine was a son of the late August Kleine Sr., pioneer merchant of Gonzales, who founded the furniture establishment of Kleine Bros. back in the early 50.s and who was prominent in Odd Fellow Circles, the present August Kleine Sr., Rebekah Lodge being named in his honor.
Mr. Kleine was born and reared in Gonzales, and after completing his education at A. & M. College entered into the furniture business here with his father until several years ago, when he withdrew to enter other pursuits. He was a prominent Odd Fellow and a member of the Episcopal church of this city.
He was 48 years old, having been born on January 12, 1872. His family having had a large part in the development of Gonzales, he loved his home town and that regard was expressed in a type of community loyalty unsurpassed as a citizen. Enjoying a wide popularity on account of his genial disposition and big heart, he numbered his friends by the score, many beinf of lifelong standing. As husband and father, he was devoted to those dearest to him, kind and indulgent almost to a fault.
Mrs. Kleine's sisters, Mrs. E. B. Coopwood and Mrs. M. O. Flowers of Lockhart, accompanied by Mr. Coopwood, Mr. Flowers, Mrs. Thomas McNeal, Mrs. W. B. Trigg and Mrs. A. S. Carter, arrived Thursday at noon.
One of the largest funerals ever witnessed in Gonzales was that of Friday afternoon when Gonzales paid its final tribute of respect to his memory.
It was a representative gathering of citizens, many of them lifelong friends of the decedent, together with a number of out-of-town friends and relatives of the family who were assembled at the family residence at 5 o'clock for the deeply touching services conducted by the Rev. Frances A. Brown, rector of the church of the Messiah, of which Mr. Kleine had been a prominent member for years. The handsome casket rested in the large living room which was almost a bower of beautiful flowers, so numerous were the offerings about the apartment and the casket. Here was read the simple burial service for the dead from the church ritual which was supplement by the reading of a beautiful section appropriate to the hour and especially comforting to the grief stricken loved ones. The choir softly rendered two selections, "Abide With Me" and "Lead Kindly Light," during the service.
At the conclusion of the service the acting pall bearers, J. B. Hoskins, W. H. Ainsworh

Obit-Gonzales Inquirer July 1, 1920

Pays Tribute to Late William C. Kleine
In chronicling the death of William C. Kleine, the Lockhart Post-Register paid his memory the following deserved high tribute:
"Mr. Kleine was one of the most prominent business men of Gonzales and was an important factor in all affairs of the town. He often visited Lockhart and being an amiable disposition had made many friends here. Wherever William Kleine is known, news of his death will be the occasion of grief."

Gonzales Inquirer July 29, 1920
Notice of Probate

• Reference: Find A Grave Memorial - SmartCopy: Sep 20 2023, 7:09:53 UTC
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