author
John Kline
1797–1864
A Civil War-era Brethren leader remembered for tireless ministry, peace witness, and a life of service recorded in his own diary. His story blends frontier faith, practical healing, and the dangers of preaching nonviolence in wartime Virginia.
1 Audiobook
About the author
Born in Dauphin County, Pennsylvania, on June 17, 1797, he later moved with his family to Virginia and became an elder in the Brethren tradition. He is remembered as a preacher, farmer, and healer who traveled widely through the Shenandoah Valley, caring for both spiritual and physical needs.
Kline is closely associated with Life and Labors of Elder John Kline, the Martyr Missionary, a work drawn from his diary and published after his death. That record helped preserve a vivid picture of everyday religious life, pastoral work, and Brethren convictions in the mid-19th century.
During the Civil War, he became especially known for his commitment to peace. In 1864, after years of ministry and leadership among the Brethren, he was killed near his home in Rockingham County, Virginia, and has often been remembered as a martyr for that witness.