I believe he was the son of Peter Kleckner, according to a descendant. I am sure he was not the son of Johann Adam.

I have reviewed original Northumberland County tax records for those townships of Northumberland County that split off to become Union County. It is basically E Buffalo Twp, including usually Berlin 'Longstown' and Lewisburg 'Derrstown' and W Buffalo, including usually Mifflinburg 'Youngstown'. The Kleckners/Cleckners show up thus:

W Buffalo
1793-1797. John and Solomon Kleckner consistently listed
1799-1812. Two John Kleckners, one is innkeeper (tavern, stiller), the other Penns Creek
1793-1811. Solomon Kleckner, clockmaker
1794-1795. George Kleckner single (I think he is not Kleckner)
1809. George Kleckner reappears with 225 acres (I think he was George, son of the other John
1807-1808. Joseph Kleckner
1807-1813. Daniel Kleckner, single
1806-1812. William Kleckner, cooper

1811 is typical.
John Kleckner innkeeper and right below him Daniel Kleckner single.
John Kleckner Penns Creek also called housedoctor (?)
William Kleckner cooper and right below him George Kleckner jobber(?) and right below him Solomon Kleckner farmer crossed out.

John Kleckner, the wrong one, died in 1829 with wife named Sarah, sons William, George, Isaac and Abraham and sons-in-law George Spangler, James McColley, John Cuplin, Joseph Swarm and John Filos (Fries?). He was of Hartley Twp and I think he was the one referred to as Penns Creek.

I have also examined business licenses records for Union County starting in 1822.

John Kleckner is listed as a tavern keeper starting in 1822 and most years until 1833. From 1829 to 1833, George Kleckner is also listed and he also is listed in 1834 and 1835, then David Kleckner seems to replace him until 1838. Starting in 1838, Michael Kleckner is also listed and then he alone is listed through 1856 which is as late as the records run. Michael is said to be of New Berlin starting in about 1840.

Finally, I have examined the 1800-1830 Census for Union County (in 1800 part of North’d).

1800. Two men named John Clarkner live in West Buffalo Twp.
1810. Two men named John Kleckner and one each named David and Solomon live in West Buffalo.
1820. Abraham, George, Isaac, William and and John live in Hartleton Twp. Anthony lives in Centre County. John and Solomon live in West Buffalo.
1830. John lives in Center Twp. Geo, Geo, Isaac, William and Sarah live in Hartley Twp. Jos and Michael live in New Berlin. Solomon and Jacob lives in Union Twp. John, David, Elias and George live in West Buffalo.

This is the man I call the “other” or “wrong” John Kleckner of Union County. He was not our ancestor, nor do I think even related to them. But he was about the same age as and moved to Union County at about the same time as our ancestor named John Kleckner, and that has caused me and other researchers a great deal of confusion.

I have found some descendants of this John Kleckner of Hartley Township -- in particular, Mary MacLead, whose research I found very thorough. She shared with me her extensive documentation on the descendants of Peter Kleckner of Sussex County, NJ. Peter was the father of the “other” John.

John married second Sarah.