Dixie Roots: John G. Klinck Helps Name Montgomery

John Graham Klinck was born 5Feb 1796 in Albany, New York. By the age of 17 (1813), he was listed in the city directories as a printer, working with his older brother, Graham (George Graham Klinck). Four years later, he packed his bags, and set off on an adventure that would include treacherous horse-back travel, run-ins with Indians, and eventually – the founding and naming of Montgomery, Alabama!

Almost 40 years later, John wrote a letter to the Montgomery Mail. He’d read an article they published about Montgomery’s early history and thought readers would be interested in his memories of the time. Today, I share his letter with you as it appeared in the Alabama Historical Quarterly 100 years later, in 1956.

The information his letter contains is fascinating! Unfortunately, the biggest lesson I learned while researching John’s letter is that I could spend MONTHS researching John’s letter! Every other sentence has me asking a new question. But I don’t want to squirrel this ancestral record away while I embark on the mother of all research projects. So today will be an introduction. Read his letter – and share your own questions with me. I’ll happily add them to my list!