John Kline

Born in Pennsylvania in 1797 and later rooted in Rockingham County, Virginia, John Kline became a leading figure in the Church of the Brethren. He began preaching in the 1830s and traveled widely on horseback through Virginia and neighboring states, serving scattered congregations and recording much of his work in a diary.

Kline is especially remembered for his steady ministry during the American Civil War. Brethren sources describe him as a respected church leader, healer, and moderator of the Brethren Annual Meeting, and his life has often been presented as an example of pastoral courage and peacemaking.

His best-known book connection is Life and Labors of Elder John Kline, the Martyr Missionary, a volume drawn from his diary and associated with Benjamin Funk's later compilation. Because the readily available page images I found did not include a clear portrait of him, I have left the profile image blank.