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More on the Whiteman Family History, Continued: page 3
Graham, Cline and More
Henry Clay Graham was the great grandson of James Graham. James was a soldier in the war of 1812, Henry Clay served in
the Civil War as a Private with "C" Company, 150th Indiana Volunteers. He received his discharge in Virginia at
the end of that war, with less that $8.00 in pay, and returned home to Boone County, Indiana. In the late 1860s he married
Melvina Catherine Cline at Gallatin, Missouri. Henry and his wife had close ties before the Civil War, having a common ancestor:
Melvina's grandmother was Elizabeth Graham Fear, and she was also Henry Clay Graham's aunt. Another complex relationship!
Children of Henry Clay and Melvina Graham:
Julia Graham
Tyra Lawson Graham
Silas H. Graham
Henrietta Graham
Maud Graham
John W. Graham
Leona Graham
Jerry S. Graham
James R. Graham
When Henry and Melvina arrived in Kansas, they had six children: Julia, Tyra Lawson, Silas H., Henrietta, Maud and John
W., all Grahams. They lived on rented land basically for the rest of the parent's lives, and added three more children to
the family: Leona, Jerry S and James R.
During their growing years the Graham boys worked for the Russel Ranch near Climax, KS and on the railroad running from
Eureka to Severy. Some of their neighbors in the Farmington District included the Soverns, Stubers and Rawlings.
Henry Clay Graham was active in the G.A.R. and often, with his brother-in-law Simeon Cline, set up a hospitality tent
at the annual G.A. R. celebrations in Eureka.
Henry Clay Graham died in 1905 and is buried in Greenwood Cemetery with his wife, Melvina, his mother Sarah Stoker Graham
and his children: John W, Silas B. and Julia. James R. is buried in another area of the same cemetery.
Commentary by James Graham, researcher:
If by now you feel thoroughly confused and your brain numb, do not be concerned. It is just an allergy associated with
tree searching that if you hang in there, you will acquire an immunity and begin to enjoy working the puzzles. We hope to
continue digging up information and even discover that what you have read may contain some errors.
I have bundles of photocopies of wills, deeds, pension records, military papers, marriage records, death records and census
data. And much, much more about the four families.
In this packet I have attempted to be consistent in the spelling of names. The people who took the census, drew the wills
and other documents wrote the names and places as they were pronounced to him. Therefore, we find Sarah written Siry, Sary
or Saree. And remember, earlier, the several ways Ensena was spelled. Sometimes a Sarah was called Sally. Graham is found,
Grayham and Grame. To date we have not found anyone, from Henry Clay on back, who could write his or her name. We have found
scores of X's.
It is interesting that the language spoken by these people is still spoken much the same in parts of Kentucky, Tennessee
and the Virginias to this day. We have come to think of it as "hill billy" lingo but in truth it is Elizabethan
era English!
So what is new? Today we still repeat names. We presently have a James V., a Henry C. and a John, even though he spells
it Jon. While I cannot think of a present day Sarah, we have an Elizabeth, the middle name of Nancy Veale. This is an area
that has not been researched so I may have missed others.
In closing, we hope that 200 years from now if someone is balmy enough to trace their family trees, our effort will make
their job a little easier. So add to and pass along what has been collected.
James Robert Graham, Jr. (IV)
August 12, 1986
Tulsa, Oklahoma
Jim Graham also wrote: "As a kid, about 9, I remember Ivan Whiteman whose wife (Gladys May Kirk) was a second cousin
of my Dad. They had two children, one of which was Ivan Vinton Whiteman, last known to be in California. Simeon lived and
owned property near Climax. Ivan was a mechanic and when I was a youngster we visited the Whitemans in Wichita. He was working
for Clyde Cessna in a small hanger in southeast Wichita. That was about 1932-33.
THE STOKERS
? STOKER b. ? d. about 1826, near Lexington, Ky. married 1803 SARAH ? b. Feb. 2, 1780, Ky. d. May 1860, Hendricks Co.,
Indiana
As indicated above, we are still searching for his first name and where he was born. Since their first child was born
in 1803, we assume he and Sarah were married that year or earlier. From family papers and the fact their last child was born
in 1826, his death would have been no earlier than 1825.
Soon after Sarah Stoker was widowed, she moved to Hendricks County, Indiana with her eight children. Her reason for undertaking
such a move is unknown but she may have had relatives already living there or had joined relatives on the move to that state.
Finding her will, that was drawn in September 1855, led to her discovery. She apparently departed Kentucky with some assets
as she acquired property in Hendricks County which adjoins Boone County on the south.
The children of ? Stoker and Sarah A. Stoker:
Washington Stoker
Amanda Stoker
Eliza Ann Stoker
Tyra Stoker
Eveline Stoker
Sarah Ann Stoker
Walter Stoker
Ensena Stoker
Washington Stoker b 1803; Amanda, b 1815; Eliza Ann, b 1816; Tyra. b 2/26/1818. Tyra Stoker, from historical items in
the two counties, is mentioned as a skillful wilderness man. He as a great hunter and talented gunsmith, a trade he learned
in his youth.; Eveline, b ?; SARAH ANN, b 1824; Walter, b 1824 (twins?); Ensena (Sena) b 1826. All in Kentucky.
In Sarah's will she resided on her farm described as the W-5-NE Sec. 18 Twp. 17N Range 1W. She named as Executors of her
will her son Tyra and a son-in-law, Tilman Graham, who was married to her youngest daughter Ensena. We have found Ensena's
name spelled Sena, Senia, Ensenia and Seny. Spelled as the ears of the penman heard it pronounced. Tilman Graham (see family
of James II) was the brother of John Graham who married Sarah Ann, Ensena' s older sister. By the time of Sarah Stoker's death,
John Graham had been killed by gunshot four years earlier and her son Walter had also preceded her, November 26, 1844. It
was Walter who witnessed for John Graham and Sarah Ann on their application for a marriage license.
The Stokers may have lived in Boone County for a time, according to some records. Sarah Stoker and her son Walter are
buried with the Grahams in the Boone County, Poplar Grove Cemetery. Nearby is the grave of Robert Stoker who was born in 1775
in Kentucky. At first we thought he was her husband. Later, when we found she was widowed in Kentucky, we decided Robert may
have been her husband's brother and if not, he was certainly a relative.
William J. Cline;
Simeon T. Cline, our ancestor;
Harriett Cline;
Melvina C. Cline;
Mary Cline;
Sarah Cline.
John A. was born in 1837 and married Rosetta Luse; William J in 1839; Simeon T (our ancestor) June 19, 1842; Harriett
in 1845; Melvina C. on November 19, 1846, who married Henry Clay Graham March 7, 1868 in Daviess County, Missouri; Mary in
1850 and Sarah in 1852. Mary and Sarah were shown as being born in Iowa on the 1860 census (this may not be correct.).
According to researcher Connie May, William Cline, brother of Simeon, was married to Sarah Cox. She shows a birth year
of 1837. She shows Melvina Catherine Cline as born on 11/18/1845; so one can see that researchers do not all agree and "facts"
come from different places.
Around 1830, when Bennett Cline was about 26 years old, he moved to Boone County, Indiana from the family home in Scott
Township. He was the first to leave the family nest, and he was one of the first settlers in that area, locating near another
early settler, John D. Fear. John Fear also lived in that part of Virginia that became Kentucky, so possibly the two families
had known each other a long time.
The original settlers of an area had to "make do" in building their cabins, using what materials they could
find and handle on their own. However, when the area began to populate, "bees" were held when the people became
sufficiently numerous. The "bee," or "frolic" went basically like this: If a young couple married, a spot
was selected for a habitation. A day was appointed for commencement of the building of the cabin. The "fatigue"
party, consisting of the choppers felled the trees and cut them into proper lengths. A man with a team hauled them to the
place and arranged them properly assorted. Another party found and/or selected roofing material, and another prepared puncheons
for the floor. The rest of the company did the lifting. Once finished, the cabin was usually "warmed" by a good
"breakdown," or dance. With the use of liquor, these "warmings" were always full of spirit and hilarity.
Bennett Cline must have searched around for a wife about this time. His eyes fell upon the woman of his choice, and he
proposed. He was impressed with John Fear's daughter, Martha Patsy. It appears she liked him, too.
Bennett may have married twice, possibly first to a Mary Ann Smith on May 22, 1824. This is according to another researcher
and does make sense since he would have been about 20 at the time. His marriage to Martha Patsy was in 1835, when he was 31.
Or this information could pertain to another Bennett Cline.
The Children of Bennett and Martha Patsy Cline:
From a family researcher: "William J. Cline was my great grandfather. He married Sarah Cox b. Abt. 1844 in IN. In
the 1850 Census I found her name as a 5 yr old, living w. her parents in Boone Co, IN. I began my search for her there, because
William & his brothers were born there, however I never found their names in the Boone Co, IN lists. In the 1880 Census
the Wm. Cline family was living in Fox Creek, St. Louis Co., MO--a little rural community right behind Six Flags on I-44 from
what I can tell on the map.
William & Sarah Cline had 5 children:
Lenora Cline
Thomas Jasper Cline
John R Cline;
Sarah A. Cline
Simeon B Cline.
Lenora was born 1886 in Iowa; Thomas Jasper born May 22, 1870 in Missouri; John R. born 1873 in MO; Sarah A. born 1877
in MO; Simeon B. born 1879 in MO.
They experienced a lot of tragedy, however. Little Simeon died very young with blood poisoning. In 1886, when my grandfather
(Thomas Cline) was 16, the family was attempting to move and the Ferry boat that was moving them across the Missouri River
capsized. The father & the two daughters were drowned but the mother was rescued. The two brothers were on the bank &
saw it but could do nothing. Sarah, the mother later married a Mr. Randall, I'm told.
Thomas Cline married Eunice Matilda Kingman in Kansas & had one daughter, Pearl Lenora, who was my mother. Pearl was
born June 29, 1906. Her father was a lumber jack when she was young. Her mother was a school teacher before they married.
My mother married my father, Linden Glen Draper in 1930 in Michigan where he was attending college. They had 7 children, of
which I am the youngest.
It was the common name of Simeon that gave me the clue to join my family tree with Bennett Cline. I have identified Bennett's
parents as being John Cline & Rachel Bennett but that's as far back as I have gone. I would like to know the more distant
ancestry if you know it---the parents of John & of Rachel, etc.
So, if Simeon T. was William's younger brother, that would make us 3rd cousins, wouldn't it? My grandfather & your
grandparent were 1st cousins---my mother & your parent were 2nd cousins. Would any of the cousins have lived near enough
to know each other ? My mother was born in Eagle River, Wisconsin & lived around there & for a while in Canada until
she went to college in Berrien Springs, Mich. Where did your family live? My parents moved to Ohio near where dad grew up
& that is where we all call home.
Looking forward to hearing from you, Connie Draper May"
Bennett Cline served his country in the American Civil War. He was in Co K, 19th Indiana . He was disabled, and discharged
in 1862.
STATISTICS OF REGIMENT:
Mustered in, officers, 31; men, 747; total, 784. Died, 7; deserted, 15; returned, 762. Regimental officers from Delaware
County. Assistant Surgeon George W. Edgerly. Re-enlisted in the Eighth Indiana Regiment, for three years.
Found under COMPANY K PRIVATES:.
Bennett Cline, discharged in 1862 for disability.
Henry Clay Cline, discharged March 25, 1863, for disability.
Officers, 80; men, 1,283; recruits, 1,332; veterans, 448; unassigned recruits, 696; total, 3,839. Officers died, 10; men
died 382; deserters, 228; discharged, 1.208; number mustered out, about 941.
During the period the regiment was in service it traveled more than 15,000 miles. The following are the chief events in
the history of this regiment; Mustered in as infantry, for three years, July 24, 1861; reached Baltimore August 3, 1861; remained
at Baltimore until February 19, 1862; sailed with Butler's expedition to New Orleans, on the steamer Constitution, March 4,
1862; on board ship Republic, near Fort St. Philip and Jackson, from April 15, to 29, 1862; waded across to the quarantine,
April 29, 1862, touching the wharf at New Orleans May 1, 1862, the first of Butler's army camped at Algiers, La., to May 30,
making forages, capturing steamers in Red River, etc. Took post at Baton roughe, La., June 1, 1862. Participated in the battle
of Baton Rouge, this regiment alone contesting the field against a whole rebel brigade for three and a half hours, suffering
a loss of one hundred and twenty-eight killed and wounded, afterward camping at Carrollton, La. Dispersed Waller's Texas Rangers
at Des Allemand, killing twelve and capturing thirty or forty prisoners, September 8, 1862. Was stationed at Berwick's Bay
until the last of February, 1863, when it was changed to the First Heavy Artillery, and went up the Teche with Banks. Engaged
in the second battle at Camp Bisland; in the siege of Port Hudons, La., May 21 to July 8, 1863, and in the battle of La Fourche
Crossing, La., on the 21st of June, 1863. Was veteranized and visited Indianapolis, and home on furlough during the winter
of 1863-64. On the 19th of February, 1864, a grand reception took place at the Metropolitan Hall, Indianapolis, prior to the
re-departure of the regiment for the seat of war. Upon its return, it took part in Banks' expedition up Red river in March,
1864. Having afterward been variously stationed in the Gulf of Mexico, four batteries were at the bombardment of Fort Morgan,
in the vicinity of Mobile Harbor, from August 13 to 23, 1864; and, in March and April following, six batteries took part in
the operations against Mobile. From that time, it was stationed at Forts Barancas, Pickens, Morgan, at Baton Rouge, etc.,
up to, and after, October, 1865, and was finally mustered out January 10, 1866. Companies B, C, E, I, K, and L were made up,
in part, of volunteers from Delaware County"
As a farmer, Bennett Cline most likely grew grain. It had to be taken to the mill to be ground into flour. This was quite
an undertaking. It was perhaps a two or three day journey. Sometimes a pair of oxen attached to a cart carried the farmer
and his grain, but often the farmer went on horseback with the bag of grain across the horse's back before him. This was tedious.
but the farmer was anxious to get back to his wife and children. They might even have been suffering from a scarcity of flour.
In any case, the dark nights along without the father, with the howling winds or perhaps the howling of wolves making things
more frightening, were long and anxious. When the farmer was delayed, perhaps due to problems at the grist mill, or bad weather,
or damage to the trail by previous bad weather, it was hard on all involved.
Bennett and his family moved to near Centerville, Iowa in Appanoose County, Taylor Township. In 1860 his property was
valued at $1000 and his personal property at $500. It is unclear when the move was made, why, or how long they stayed in Iowa.
In 1870, Bennett Cline and Patsy, Tilman Graham and wife Ensesna (more on them later), Henry Clay Graham and Melvina (Bennett's
daughter) were all in Daviess County, Missouri. Simeon T. Cline may have moved to that area soon after. It is assumed that
Bennett and Patsy spent the rest of their lives in this location. Bennett Cline is said to have been a founding settler of
Hendricks, County Indiana. He did receive a pension from his service in the Civil War.
John D. Fear
Chapter Three
In colonial times and the early 1800s the name Fear appeared so often it seemed almost a common name. Today it is a rarity,
quite the opposite of the Clines and the Grahams. Supposedly the first to arrive on our shores was an offspring of the Fear
Silversmithing family in Great Britain. There were many Fears in Virginia and many named John, William and Robert.
The Fear family descended from a long line of silversmiths in Great Britain. John was born in 1788 or 1789. He lived in
that part of Virginia that became Kentucky. He married, in 1809, Sarah Graham, daughter of James Graham. Sarah was born in
1790 in Kentucky. John was about 21 and she was 19 when they married.
Sarah and John D. Fear had 11 children ... all daughters. Do you suppose they kept trying for a boy? The girls were:
Sarah Fear;
Elizabeth (Betsy) Fear;
Martha Patsy Fear(our ancestor);
Maranda Jane Fear;
Minerva Fear;
Melvina Fear;
Phoebe Fear;
Lucinda Fear;
Mary Ann Fear;
Harriett Fear;
Elmira Fear.
The Fear Sisters:
Sarah Fear, born in 1812. Sarah married James (Numan) Newman on November 26, 1846 in Hendricks Co, IN.
Elizabeth (Betsy) Fear, born March 22, 1810. She died July 20, 1864 in Boone County, IN. She married Jacob Dinsmore on
June 26, 1828 in Decatur, Franklin County, IN. She was 18, he was 23. Jacob was born July 26, 1805 in Montgomery Co., KY and
died March 6, 1891. He was the son of Thomas Dinsmore of VA and KY and Martha Oglesby. We know of 11 children this couple
produced.
Family of Elizabeth (Fear) & Jacob Dinsmore:
John T Dinsmore;
Sallie Ann Dinsmore;
Martha Jane Dinsmore;
Eliza Ann Dinsmore;
William F Dinsmore;
Pleasant J. Dinsmore(m. Sarah Ann Chitwood);
Francis M Dinsmore 02 Jun 1840;
Elma A Dinsmore;
Elzada Dinsmore (twins);
Ellen Dinsmore;
Simon P Dinsmore.
A Biological Sketch:
Jacob Dinsmore, became the father of John Thomas Dinsmore, the subject of this sketch. He was born in Montgomery county,
Ky., July 26, 1805, and married Eliza Elizabeth Fear who was born March 27, 1810, and bore her husband the following children:
John Thomas, Sarah A., Martha J., Eliza A., William F., Pleasant J., Francis M., Mary E., Elizada and Elmaza (twins) and Simon
P. Jacob Dinsmore settled in Harrison township, Boone county, MD, in 1841, in the month of February, entering eighty acres
of land in the wilderness, on which his son, William F., is now living, and which he afterward increased to 200 acres.
In politics Jacob Dinsmore was first an oldline whig, later became a democrat, and finally joined the republican party
during the war for the preservation of the Union. He was a liberal supporter of schools and churches, was a member of the
regular Baptist church, and assisted in the erection of the Antioch church edifice in Harrison township, of which congregation
Mrs. Dinsmore was also a member. Mr. Dinsmore lived to reach a ripe old age, and his death was occasioned by an accident.
On a sleety and icy day he fell and dislocated a hip joint, but was unable to endure the pain of replacement, and fifteen
days later, March 15, 1891, passed away at the age of eighty-six years, mourned by a large circle of sympathizing friends.
His amiable and beloved wife was called from earth July 20, 1864, at the age of fifty-four years, honored by all who knew
her. John Thomas Dinsmore came to Boone county with his father in 1841. He was reared on the home farm and early was taught
lessons of industry and thrift.
PLEASANT J. DINSMORE, a highly respected farmer of Harrison township, Boone county, MD, was born in Hendricks county,
MD, June 2, 1840, and was reared on his father's farm. His grandfather, Thomas Dinsmore, was a native of Virginia, but early
settled in Kentucky, where he took an active part in the war of 1812. Subsequently he came to Indiana and settled on the farm
in Boone county now occupied by the subject of this sketch. Thomas married Martha Oglesby.
Children of Thomas and Martha Oglesby Dinsmore:
Rebecca Dinsmore;
Jacob Dinsmore;
James Dinsmore (twins);
Jackson Dinsmore;
Edith Dinsmore;
Esther Dinsmore;
John Dinsmore;
Patsey Dinsmore;
Peter Dinsmore
Jacob Dinsmore, son of Thomas and Martha, was born in Kentucky, married Elizabeth Fear, daughter of John and Sallie Graham
Fear, and in 1841 came to Indiana, and, settled in Boone county. To this worthy couple were born the following family:
John T Dinsmore;
Sallie Ann Dinsmore;
Martha Jane Dinsmore;
Eliza Ann Dinsmore;
William F. Dinsmore;
Pleasant J. Dinsmore;
Francis M. Dinsmore;
Elma A. and Elzada Dinsmore (twins);
Ellen and Simon P. Dinsmore.
Pleasant J. Dinsmore was inured in his youth to the hardships of farm life, but at the same time acquired that knowledge
of agriculture so essential in building up his fortune as a farmer in later years, and in implanting in his system those germs
of substantial health that constitute a far greater blessing to man than the mere possession of land or money, but, at the
same time, are the chief means by which man, with the aid of an ordinary intelligence, is able to accumulate wealth and to
establish for himself a good name and a position of respectability with his neighbors, which Mr. Dinsmore has happily done.
August 31, 1866, he married Sarah Ann Chitwood, daughter of Noah and Rebecca (Richardson) Chitwood, and at once settled on
a farm of forty acres, to which, by his skill and industry, he has since added until he has now a model farm of 100 acres.
Martha Patsy Fear, born in 1812, married our Bennett Cline. Lucinda Ann Fear, born in 1814 married George Daugherty (spelled
Doherty in John Fear's will) on March 4, 1841 in Hendricks County, IN. That would have made her 27 years old, pretty old for
marriage in those days.
Next came: Maranda Jane Fear (Birth?); Minerva Fear, born December 10, 1821 or 1820. We have a photo of Minerva. In the
picture she is plain, and dressed austerely.
Minerva married Leland Leak on January 6, 1839, when she was aged 19 or 20. Leland was born to James and Elizabeth Leak
on March 3, 1818 in Bracken County, KY. Excerpt from 1885 Hendricks Co.
Whenever it is practical, we include information as received from other researchers. In this manner, the reader can see
how some of what we have is obtained.
Letter from Researcher Roberta Yates: "Anne, thank you so much for the Leak information, I have a few things to add.1985
I got a letter from a Ruth Hall P.O.Box 56 Lizton, IN 46149, she had the children of Leland and Minerva Fear Leak as Sarah
Leak born Oct. 1839 M. Corbin Northcutt; John J. Leak Born 9-27-1843 died 5-5-1931 m. Susan Penry, their children Ellen Leak
married Guthrie. Samuel L. Leak 1867-1955 M. Katie Whisler 1900; Charles Larkin Leak 1871 M Pearl Joseph. Harriet Eva Leak
born 1877 M. John W.Whisler let me know if you wish a copy of the letter. Anne, I don't have a copy of the Patent deed from
Bennet Cline, a correction of marriages of Harriet Fear, married a John W. MClerg Hendricks co. Indiana 8 (not sure, hard
to read) Dec. 1857, then a Harriet Fear married Samuel Eli on 6th of Feb. 1860 Hendricks Co. 1860 Census shows them with a
boy Jasper MClerg age 3, have copys of marriages and census. John Fear's will states Harriet had a son Jasper Nuton McCoy
so not sure which is right. Roberta"
History:
Leland Leak, deceased, was born in Bracken County, KY, May 3, 1813, a son of James and Elizabeth Leak, and brother of
Landrum Leak, a prominent farmer of Union Township. He was married Jan. 6, 1839 to Minerva Fear, who was born Dec. 10, 1820,
a daughter of John D and Sarah Fear, early settlers of Eel River Township, this (Hendricks) county. To them (Leland and Minerva
Leak) were born two children--Sarah E. Leak and John J Leak. Mrs. Leak resides on the old homestead in Union Township. She
is one of the most esteemed citizens of the township, and an active member of the Christian Church. Her parents (John and
Sarah Fear) were prominent among the pioneers of the county, experiencing all of the privations and hardships incident to
the early days of the township. Of the twelve children born to them, but four are living--
Patsy, Sarah, Harriet and Minerva.
Simeon Cline
Chapter Six
Simeon Cline was 5 ft 10 inches tall, of fair complexion, had blue eyes and light hair. So read his description in military
records. He must have been a good looking young man. He served his country during the Civil War. He was called "Sim"
by some. He joined the Union Army at the age of 19, and he was unmarried. He could neither read nor write, nor could any family
members to that date insofar was we know. Documents were signed with an "X". He was a farmer at time of enlistment.
Simeon was born June 19, 1842, in Hendrix County, Indiana. At some point Simeon met his future wife, Martha Jane West,
the daughter of Bushrod West and Mary Showers West, and found her appealing. They married in Centerville, Iowa, October 25,
1866, near Ottumwa, not too long after Sim returned from the war. Perhaps they knew each other before he enlisted. Can't you
just see her, waving her hanky as he left on his horse, maybe never to return?
Simeon and Martha: Children followed: According to a Graham researcher, they had eight children, but only five have been
found.
The Children of Simeon and Martha Cline:
Milo Cline
August Cline
Laura Alice Cline, our ancestor
Artie Cline
Susan Cline
Milo Cline, son, born October 30, 1867;
August, son, called Gus, Gussie or Gustie, born November 21, 1873;
Laura Alice Cline, our ancestor, born Jan 28, 1876;
Artie Cline, a girl, born New Year's Day, 1879.
Although we have no family records or lore mentioning her, there is a little headstone in the pasture south of Sam Cross,
west of Climax, Kansas, with the legend "Susan, daughter of S. T. and M. J. Cline, born August 21, 1881, died November
3, 1882." Although no one we have been in contact with has ever mentioned this child, it is clear that there were four
children who must have known the little two year old sister, the third daughter of Simeon and Martha Cline.
Simeon was 37 years old, according to family records, when Artie was born. Artie married a man named Robert Zeebee. We
have a picture of Artie, she appears to be quite attractive. Artie and Robert Zeebee had one child, Glenn Henry, who died
at age one of heart failure. They owned a 160 acre farm south of Eureka.
Simeon was 24, Martha was 18 when they married. She was born March 3, 1848 in Decatur County, Indiana. Henry Clay Graham,
his brother-in-law, suggested the young couple move to Greenwood County along with his family. While Henry Clay Graham remained
a renter, he lived a long time near the Farmington school house. Newspaper articles described the home as being about 7 1/2
miles south and west of Eureka. Simeon bought property ... first 80 acres, then 40 and 40 again. (locations in file)
Simeon heard the call of his country and went to war, joining the Union Army and serving as a private in the infantry
for 3 years and 5 months, 18 days, under General Rosecrans. He was a member of the 40th Indiana Company C. serving under Capt.
Neff. He signed up for a three year muster period, and no bounty was paid. Just a boy, really, a farmer from Boone County,
Indiana. His uniform was charged to him for a sum of $53.86, and he earned extra pay for being a prisoner and some of his
duty.
According to his records, he was home on December 31, 1861, being ill. March and April 1863 he was absent due to "detached
duty." On April 2, 1863, he was detailed with a telegraph duty. This continued.
He was present the entire year of 1862. He was, however, at home sick during December 1861. He was marked "absent"
for the dates of May and June, 1863, November and December, 1863, and January and February 1864. The notation was "absent
in detached service." (15th Infantry). The next notation was February 29, 1864 (obviously leap year) he was "present"
and transferred from the 40th Infantry Indiana to 15th Infantry in accordance with general order NO 076 War Department series
of 1863 for not re-enlisting as a veteran. He was in the battle at Murpheesboro, TN under Captain Neff .
He was taken prisoner on November 30, 1864 at the battle of Franklin, TN (reported as missing in action) and suffered
many hardships at Andersonville Prison, a notorious POW camp. He was only 20 years old. He was in the camp for 5 months and
16 days. The horrors of the camp took a physical toll on Simeon, and he was disabled for the rest of his life. He contracted
chronic diarrhea during his term of service while at camp near Nashville, TN about Feb or Mar 1862.(See pension records).
One such affidavit, presented by Ezra Lee age 53 and John Snider, age 48, stated: "We have lived within two miles
of the said Simeon T. Cline for the past 13 years as neighbors and are well acquainted with him during entire said time, and
seen him try to work and worked with him; and seen him frequently have to stop work and set down suffering with pain in side
called pluracy, and pain in hip and frequently heard him complain of chronic diahrrea, more or less all the time since my
first acquaintance with him. And in fact heard him frequently complain of all the aforesaid ailments."
On March 28, 1885, Sim is described in an application for pension as being 42, 5' 10 inches tall, with fair complexion,
light hair and blue eyes. He had lived in Iowa, Missouri and Kansas.
From "The Blue and the Gray"
Andersonville, in southwestern Georgia, was the largest and most dreaded of Confederate prisons. The first captured Federals
arrived there early in 1864; by midsummer the number of prisoners had increased to some 32,000, and this though the prison
was originally designed to accommodate only 10,000. In no other prison were conditions so crowded or so wretched; the prisoners
lived in tents or on the bare ground in improvised huts, the food was woefully insufficient, the water polluted and sanitary
facilities wholly inadequate. By the end of the war about 50,000 prisoners, all of them Privates, had been received at Andersonville
and about one third of them died. After peace the Superintendent, Captain Henry Wirz, was tried for murder and executed.
An excerpt from a letter written by a lady who visited an officer friend there:
Mrs. Brisbane said Father Hamilton told her that during the summer the wretched prisoners burrowed in the ground like
moles to protect themselves from the sun. It was not safe to give them material to build shanties as they use it for clubs
to overcome the guard. These underground huts, he said, were overcome with vermin and stank like charnel houses. Many of the
prisoners were stark naked, with not so much as a shirt to their backs. He told a pitiful story of a pole who had no garment
but a shirt, and to make it cover him better, put his legs into the sleeves and tied the tail around his neck. The others
guyed him so on his appearance and the poor wretch was so disheartened by his suffering that he one day deliberately stepped
over the line and stood there till the guard was forced to shoot him. Father Hamilton said that the prisoners died at the
rate of a hundred and fifty a day and he saw some of them die on the ground without a rag to lie on or a garment to cover
them. Father said dysentery was the most fatal disease and as they lay on the ground in their own excrement, the smell was
so horrible that the good father says he was often obliged to rush from their presence to get a breath of fresh air.
It was in this terrible situation our ancestor Simeon found himself. After Simeon was reported M.I.A., his next muster
is shown as Indianapolis, IN, August 18, 1865. The report states he was entitled to three months extra pay after his captivity.
He was exchanged from the Andersonville, Georgia, prison on April 1-5, 1865. After mustering out in May, he returned home.
He returned to his family, ill, at the age of 23, another casualty of the War between the States.
One of the men who testified on behalf of Simeon (who had applied for his pension) was Nathan D Everman, a county clerk
who was also in Andersonville. He stated. "I was a prisoner with this applicant in the Andersonville Prison and know
that said applicant was suffering and complained from lameness in his back and right hip and was so disabled when we were
discharged from the prison to the train he was unable to march. This was on the 25th day of March, 1865. I know the applicant
was suffering from the above and diarrhea for about a year before we were discharged from prison."
Pleasant J. Dinsmore from Boone County, IN, age 50 years, a resident of New Brunswick, IN stated that he was a member
of Company F HO Ind Vols Inft and intimately acquainted with the said Simeon Cline, and that Cline had been captured at the
Battle of Franklin and taken to prison. He further stated that he did not see Cline from the time of his capture until the
spring of 1865 immediately upon his release from prison. He said Cline was suffering from an injury to his hip and was somewhat
lame. He said Cline claimed to have hurt it at the Battle of Franklin. Dinsmore had never heard Cline complain of it before
his capture and that no doubt it was true.
Pleasant Dinsmore is well known in the history of the Indiana area these men came from. He was the son of Jacob Dinsmore
and Betsy Fear Dinsmore. Betsy was, of course, the daughter of John D. Fear, and aunt to Simeon.
Two others who gave testimonies for Simeon's pension request were William West, age 46 and John Hite, age 26. The Hite
family has been mentioned by modern day family members as "cousins" but we have no clear record of their connection.
Both men were citizens of Cloverdale County of Chatauqua, Kansas. William was a brother to Martha Jane West Cline.
housee.
The Old Cline Farm with Martha Jane and Laura
A description of Eureka today, courtesy of the Internet:
Eureka, Kansas is located in the heart of the Flint Hills of Kansas. Known for its prime cattle grazing areas, the Flint
Hills big and little bluestem grasses are used each year to fatten over 30% of the cattle in North America. Located approximately
60 miles east of Wichita on US 54 (the yellow brick road) in the rolling hills of Kansas, Eureka is a small community of approximately
2,500 people and the County Seat of Greenwood County, the 3rd largest county in Kansas. Eureka is located within 30 miles
of the three nicest Lakes in Kansas. With their adjacent public recreation and hunting areas, Eureka is a prime location for
individuals wishing to enjoy the great Kansas out-of- doors.
According to James Albert Kirk, son of James Kirk, Grandmother Martha Jane came from the "Indian side" of the
family. She is reputed to have been 6 feet tall and to have smoked a clay pipe. She was known to be a devout Christian woman.
She was born just before the California gold rush - lucky her family stayed around where she could meet Simeon so everyone
could be born!
Simeon and Martha Jane West Cline were married almost 50 years. Martha died November 7, 1915, and is buried in Greenwood
Cemetery 5 miles south of Eureka, Kansas. Simeon died 6 months after Martha, having reached the age of 73 years, 10 months
and 17 days. He also lies in Greenwood Cemetery. He died May 6, 1916. A funeral record kept by his granddaughter, Gladys,
said that "Jesus is Mine" and "Relief in Jesus" were songs that were sung. Members of the G. A. R. Laura
Cline Kirk and her husband are buried in an adjoining grave. There is a large, impressive stone that notes Simeon's military
service.
We have the obituary for Martha Jane Cline, which tells a lot about her. The obituary was very lengthy (on file). It states,
in part, she was born march 3, 1843 in Decatur County, Indiana; and died at the family home 5 miles south of Eureka, KS on
Sunday, November 7, 1915 having reached the age of 67. years, 8 months and 4 days. She was married to S.T. Cline, October
25, 1866 at Centerville, IA. 8 children were born to them, Milo of Sioux City, IA, Gustie Cline of Humboldt KS, Laura Kirk
and Mrs.. Artie Zeebee of near Eureka, KS, and four who died in infancy. (Including perhaps Susan mentioned earlier?) Besides
her husband, she left four sisters, two brothers and 7 grandchildren. She & S.T. came to KS in 1874 and settled 5 miles
s of Eureka, where they resided since. She was a member of the Christian Church at her girlhood home. She was a woman of unusual
activity and although failing in health, had been able to attend to household duties.
Sunday she returned to the house after feeding her poultry, and without warning her heart ceased to beat and she sank
to the floor. Her death came as a great shock to her family and friends. Funeral services were held from the home at 10:oo
o'clock Wednesday, conducted by Rev. E.T. Rice. Burial at Greenwood Cemetery. A sister and brother of Mrs. Cline, Mrs. M.E.
Clifford of Chanute, KS and Leonard West, of Cedarvale KS, and also a niece, Mrs. Margaret Beets, of Cedarvale KS attended
the funeral. (Could that have been Margaret Dietz? The Dietz family was related in some way.) Martha, an active woman, died
of a heart attack, and so did Simeon.
Martha's death certificate, with information given by Mr. James Kirk of Eureka, Kansas, states she was female, white,
married. Daughter of B. West and Mary Shavers. Born in Indiana, she was a housewife at time of death.
Simeon's obituary read: Simeon T. Cline, born in the state of Iowa June 19, 1842, died in Eureka, Kansas, on Saturday,
May 6th, 1916, having reached the age of 73 years, ten months and 17 days. He was married to Martha Jane West who died November
7, 1915, at the family home 5 miles south of Eureka. She preceded him just six months after having lived with him nearly 50
years. Eight children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Cline, four of whom died in infancy.
His death certificate, with information given by Gus Cline of Humboldt, Kansas, says he was Male, White, Widowed. Born
June 19, 1842 and died at age 73, 10 months and 17 days. He was a Farmer, born in Indiana to Bennett Cline and Patsy Fear.
The cause of his death was "arteriosclerosis and valvular heart Disease with dropsy and albuminurica. He may have had
malignancy of the liver. He had a so called cancer removed from nose 2 years ago. Had attack of angina adominicus and spasm
of heart and large blood vessels."
The four living are: Milo Cline of Sioux City, IA, Gus Cline of Humboldt, KS, Mrs. Laura Kirk of Eureka, KS, and Mrs.
Artie Zeebee of Eureka, KS. Mr. Cline brought his family to Eureka, arriving April 3, 1875, and settled on a farm in Greenwood
County where they lived until Mrs. Cline's death. (obit on file. Here it chronicled his military service.) Funeral services
were held at the Methodist Church Tuesday afternoon at 2:30 o'clock, conducted by Rev E.T. Rice. Burial in Greenwood Cemetery.
(We have a copy of his funeral handout naming pall bearers, floral gifts, etc., on file as well. There is a picture of the
family's floral arrangement)
We know some other things about busy Simeon and Martha. They appear to have been popular in their community, and an active
part of the community. The picture we get is of a hard working but fun loving couple with a house full of youngsters. Life
on a farm is difficult, but Simeon and Martha made a success of it. The family appeared to be into a social life. In my file
is a copy of a dance card from Laura Cline from 1896. She was scheduled for a waltz with J. Lampe, a quadrille with J. T.
Ryan, another with her brother Gus Cline, and a number of others.
Simeon, according to researcher Jim Graham, was called "Uncle Sim" by his nieces and nephews and was "an
entertaining old guy."
Added to his other health problems, Simeon had a cancer removed from his nose when he was 51 years old. So did his descendent
Gladys Whiteman and her son, Marvin Whiteman. The operation apparently left Simeon disfigured, according to James Albert Kirk.
Here are some articles and comments from the Eureka Messenger:
On March 20, 1896, an article in the Eureka Messenger said, "Grandma Lampe has entered a vigorous competition with
Mrs. Cline in raising chickens. Honors are about even - so far each lady has a hundred of the darling little garden destroyers."
On May 6, 1897: "The Honey Creek society meets at Mrs. Cline's this afternoon. Green gooseberry pie will probably
be one of the features and the aggravating part of it is that I won't get a piece!" Interestingly, her great-granddaughter
Cora Fay Whiteman Sherman made an excellent gooseberry pie - at a time when people rarely could find gooseberries!
November 2, 1899: "The 25th anniversary of Mr. and Mrs. Cline's married life was passed last week. What's become
of the Honey Creek circle? Is our vice president and secretary pro tem too busy buying rocking chairs, heating stoves, Shaker
flannel, etc., to let such anniversaries pass without baking a cake or something? "
January 31, 1896: "The monotony of creek life was relieved somewhat by a dance at Mr. Clines. All report a good time.
The two Misses Cline were happy recipients of an elegant organ, a present from their parents, and are taking music lessons
on the same. I hope that when they learn how, they will play when requested to do so and not refuse as so many young ladies
do." Obviously the Clines were fairly well to do if they could afford an expensive instrument.
Simeon Cline was mentioned in an article entitled "UNCLE JOHNNIE, HONEY CREEK CORRESPONDENT." It said "MAY
25, 1899. S.T. Cline paid $200 cash for forty acres of land adjoining him and has bought a new riding cultivator. Sim is from
Missouri but needs no one to cite him to prosperity for he's on the road". Since Simeon was born in Iowa, he must have
stopped off in Missouri somewhere in between Iowa and Kansas! Simeon had land described as a farm at Section 35, Fall River
Township, Kansas.
An article in the Eureka Messenger held information about August, Simeon's second oldest. It read, "June 24, 1897.
August Cline has thrown up his job and will go west where he expects to get $2 a day for twenty days and $1.50 per day from
then till Christmas. We hear no more about air-ships, but some young men in this vicinity have seen air-castles which are
luring them to the west where it is supposed there is plenty to do and high wages for the doing. Dame fortune, smile upon
our boys and bring them home again." We can only assume that Gus Cline was eager for more than he found in Kansas, and
wanted to see more of the world.
Gus made the trip and the newspaper reported: July 22, 1897: "Gus Cline writes back that he has a soft snap hauling
water for a threshing outfit. He did not have much fun on the fourth, but won a $2.50 prize for finding a balloon that had
been sent up. If Gus had seen what I saw last Sunday, he would chase no more air-ships but would come right home. 'Goodbye,
my lover, goodbye.'" What the latter refers to is not known. Possibly Gus' girl was seeing another? But look at that
prize! A day and a quarter's wages.
Two days after that article appeared, another stated that Dr. Dillon lanced a very vicious tumor which had found lodgment
under Simeon T. Cline's arm. "If Sim would raise more blackberries, he would not have such things." (Who knows what
that means?)
Milo made the paper, too. On September 16, 1897: "Milo Cline slipped on his corn sled last week and cut his right
ankle quite severely, one of the leaders being cut square in two. Dr. Grove did a neat job of dressing, which fact, coupled
with the magnificent constitution Milo carries around with him will no doubt ensure a speedy recovery from the injury."
SIMEON'S COMPLETE CIVIL WAR RECORD IS IN MY FILE AND HAS A LOT OF INFORMATION ABOUT HIS SERVICE. HIS PENSION RECORD RELATES
A LONG ILLNESS FOLLOWING THE WAR. HAVING BEEN IN ANDERSONVILLE PRISON. ONE SUCH RECORD WENT AS FOLLOWS:
EZRA J GEE & JOHN SNIDER, AFFIANTS, SWORE "WE HAVE LIVED WITHIN TWO MILES OF THE SAID SIMEON T CLINE FOR THE
PAST THIRTEEN YEARS, AS NEIGHBORS, AND ARE WELL ACQUAINTED WITH HIM DURING SAID ENTIRE TIME; AND SEEN HIM TRY TO WORK, AND
WORKED WITH HIM; AND SEEN HIM FREQUENTLY HAVE TO STOP WORK AND SET DOWN WHILE
SUFFERING WITH PAIN IN SIDE CALLED PLEURISY AND PAIN IN HIP AND FREQUENTLY HEARD HIM COMPLAIN OF CHRONIC DIARRHEA MORE
OR LESS ALL THE TIME SINCE MY FIRST ACQUAINTANCE WITH HIM AND IN FACT HAVE HEARD HIM FREQUENTLY COMPLAIN OF ALL THE AFORESAID
COMPLAINTS."
While researching this came to light:
From a letter found in the Eureka Historical Society:
Dear Eunice Boeve:
I did find the will of Simeon Cline. He died May 6, 1916. According to his handwritten will he left his personal and housekeeping
effects to his sons, M.C. Cline and G. T. Cline. Then he left his money, securities, real estate, etc. to be divided equally
among his four children: M.C. Cline, G. T. Cline, Laura Kirk and Arta (?) Zeebe.
I think Laura Kirk was the wife of James Kirk and they lived near my father's farm southeast of Eureka when I was a child.
(there was more, and she included an obit on Martha Cline & Simeon Cline).
Another letter from the same party to same party:
I haven't had any luck in finding Milo Cline - except for the M.C or M. J. Cline in S.T.'s household in census records.
I THINK that Glen Kirk, RFD 1, Eureka, KS 67045 is a distant relative of James Kirk. There is a Gary Cline, Climax, KS, but
he doesn't seem to be a relation.
(She mentions other information and states a funeral lot was sold to Francis Kirk Jan 29, 1900. In it are Kitty Black,
John Kirk, Patrick & Catherine Kirk.) Then she says: "James Kirk lived in the school district where I grew up. He
had two daughters, Gladys & Zelma, and one son >>>>> Kirk. The girls were nice girls, but the boy was spoiled.
I remember that Laura came to "Whup the teacher" once, when the teacher had whipped the boy. James was odd; once
he went to bed and "tried to die". I suspect he wasn't well as he died not many years later."
Sincerely yours, Helen Bradford
The boy would have been James Albert Kirk, and he lived to adulthood.
From the Andersonville records: Andersonville Prison
Andersonville Prisoner Profile
Code No:
51447
Grave No: NOT BURIED AT ANDERSONVILLE
Last Name: CLINE
First Name: S.
Rank: PRIVATE
Company: A
Regiment: 114
State: IL
Branch of
Service: INFANTRY
Date of Death:
Cause of Death:
Remarks: EXCHANGED APRIL 5, 1865
Reference:
Place Captured:
Date Captured:
Alternate Names:
Status: SURVIVED ANDERSONVILLE
More Information Available: NO
* Reference descriptions.
Notice: This database is provided by the National Park Service.
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