James Marion Cline and Minerva Frances (Metzker) Cline, 50th wedding anniversary, June 25, 1950.
Photo courtesy of Rhonda (Cline) Nickel.

James Marion "Jim" & Minerva Frances (Metzker) Cline
Photo courtesy of Rhonda (Cline) Nickel.

Minerva Metzker was born November 29, 1877, in Greenville, Kentucky. She was the eldest of 13 children. When 5 years old, she moved with her parents, Mr. and Mrs. Frank Metzker, to New Harmony, Indiana, on the banks of the Wabash. She started school at the age of 8, and went until the first two weeks of the 7th grade. She worked for people, getting 75 cents a week. In 1900, she was married to Jim Cline.

Jim was born in Paragon, Indiana, October 1st, 1874. His parents were Mr. and Mrs. Francis Cline. Jim grew to manhood in New Harmony, Indiana. He married his childhood sweetheart.

The Clines moved to Evansville, Indiana where Jim worked at the Howell Railroad Shop, and Minerva kept boarders.

After 5 years, on account of Jim's health, they came to Comanche County, Kansas in 1907. Coming on a train from Wichita, they met the Jim Carletons. They divided their meal with the Clines.

Clines lived in the country for 5 years. Jim had to drive a team and wagon to get to his carpentering and sometimes draying job in town. Jim was a carpenter, by trade. He helped build many residences and business buildings in Coldwater and vicinity. He always put his name and date on a board in the house. Several people have found these when they remodel.

They soon tired of having to move every time the house they were living in, was sold, so they decided to build a house in Coldwater. They bought a block in the south-east part of town. Once they had the frame up and boxed in, a strong wind blew it down. They gathered up the scattered boards and began to build again.

The Cline children are: Hueston, Owen (who passed away as a baby), Kenneth, Leta, Edith, Allen, Frances, LeeRoy, Raymond, Jr. (J.R.) and Jessie. Six children were born in Kansas. Allen, the first.

In 1912 they moved into their new home where Jim died in 1953, and Minerva, in 1972.

Times were not easy for the Clines. Minerva made all the children's clothes, comforts, and quilts. They were never wanting bedding. They put all but three children through high school. The children all worked to help out. Minerva did washing, ironing, and sewing for others.

Edith graduated from the Axtell Christian Hospital in Newton. She passed away August 27, 1973. Hueston stayed with the Lohrdings and taught school.

In later years, Minerva dressed dolls, and made their bodies as a hobby. The many beautiful quilts that she pieced are in many homes in Coldwater and elsewhere.

The Clines have always been active members of the Christian Church where Jim was a Deacon. Although Minerva didn't get a formal education, or receive a diploma, she was as well educated as some college graduates. Through the use of the National Geographic Magazine, she had enriched her life through the reading of the experiences of other people. She was a conversationalist and was a pleasure to visit with in her home. She was also well versed on the Bible. People come to her to find different verses in the Bible.

By Frances Burkhall, Comanche County History, Vol. 1, p. 313.

---

Notes by Rhonda (Cline) Nickel: Mr. Cline's birthdate corrected to "1874" from the printed "1974." I corrected one grammar mistake, corrected the date noted, added "[J.R.]," and spelled out "cents." Otherwise, everything's as is in the history book. I have a board from the Coldwater School that was torn down recently, with Granddad's name and date on it: "Jim Cline, Coldwater, Kansas, November 10, 1925." I also have dolls, quilts and comforter that Grandma made.

---

Minerva Cline with two of her children
Home of James and Minerva (Metzker) Cline, New Harmony, Indiana
Hueston Cline is standing by the gate. The baby is Owen Cline or Leta Cline.
Photo courtesy of Martin Sizemore

Mr. and Mrs. J. M. Cline were married in New Harmony, Indiana, in June, 1900, having been school day sweethearts. Five of their eleven children were born in the Hoosier state: Hueston, Owen, Leta, Kenneth and Edith. Owen died of diptheria at the age of eight months.

In November, 1907, they brought their four children to Comanche county to make their home. For five years they lived in the country. Mr. Cline had to drive a team and wagon to get to his carpentering and sometimes to draying jobs in town.

They soon tired of having to move every time the house they were living in sold so they decided to build a house in town. They bought an entire block in the southeast part of town and after spending a few days cutting the high grass and weeds, they began building a house of their own. It was no easy job. Once they had the frame work up and boxed and a strong wind blew it down. Undaunted, however, they gathered the scattered boards and began again to build. In November, 1912, they moved to town where they have lived since.

Six more children were born into the family after they came to Kansas, Allen, being the first, Seven of their ten living children graduated from the Coldwater high school. One daughter Edith graduated from Axtell hospital in Newton, Kansas. Hueston served two and one-half years in the navy during the World War 1, being sent to the Virgin Islands as a pharmacist. Raymond was in the army for two years, serving sixteen months in the medical corps in Germany.

Mr. Cline and the ten children were baptized in the Coldwater Christian church.

Many people have asked Mr. and Mrs. Cline how they ever managed to raise ten children. They can truthfully say, "It hasn�t been easy, but our blessings are many and the Lord has been good to us.

---

Minverva Frances (Metzker) Cline
Photo courtesy of Rhonda (Cline) Nickel.

---

The Dodge City Daily Globe, November 16, 1972.

Mrs. James Cline

"Entered Into Eternal Rest Wednesday, Nov. 15, 1972"

COLDWATER - Mrs. Minerva Frances Cline, 94, died Wednesday at Comanche County Hospital, Coldwater, after a short illness. Born Nov. 29, 1877, at Greenville, Ky., she married James Cline June 25, 1900, at Poseyville, Ind. He died in 1953. She had lived in Coldwater several years.

She was a member of the Christian Church, Coldwater.

Survivors include daughters: Mrs. Leta Thompson, Protection; Mrs. Edith Martin and Mrs. Frances Burkhall, Coldwater; Mrs. Jessie Robertson, Artesia, N.M.; sons: Kenneth, Allen, LeeRoy, Raymond and Junior, Coldwater; sister: Mrs. Aliene Templin, Big Harbor, Wash.; brother: Robert Metzker, Coldwater; 28 grandchildren; 72 great-grandchildren; 18 great-great-grandchildren.

The funeral will be 2 p.m. Saturday at the Christian Church, Coldwater. Friends may call until service time at the Hatfield Funeral Home, Coldwater. The family suggests memorials to the church.

---

(Funeral Service Folder:)

In Memory of Minerva Frances Cline

Date of birth, November 29, 1877
Date of death, November 15, 1972

Services held, Christian Church, Coldwater, Kansas
Saturday, November 18, 1972, at 2:00 p.m.

Minister, Rev. Bernard Plumb
Organist, Donald G. Booth
Soloist, Jim Booth
Songs, "Close to Thee," "In the Garden"

Pallbearers, Cecil Wilson, Ralph Griffith, Fay Smith, Jerry Allen, Lloyd Ward, Keith Tucker.

Interment, Crown Hill Cemetery, Coldwater, Kansas

---

J.M. and Minerva Cline family, circa 1920.
Back: Frances, Allen, Hueston, Hueston's wife Jess, Edith.
Middle: Leta's husband Edson Thompson, Leta Thompson (holding Marguerite), James Marion "Jim" Cline, Minerva Cline, Kenneth.
Front: LeeRoy, Raymond, Jessie, Junior (J.R.).
Photo courtesy of Rhonda (Cline) Nickel.

J.M. and Minerva Cline family photo on their 50th wedding anniversary, June 25, 1950.
Back: Jessie, Leta, Allen, Raymond, Kenneth, Heuston, Frances, Junior (J.R.).
Front: LeeRoy, Minerva (Metzker) Cline, James Marion "Jim" Cline, Edith.
Photo courtesy of Rhonda (Cline) Nickel.

James Marion & Minerva Frances (Metzker) Cline with their family on their 50th wedding anniversary, June 25, 1950.
Photo courtesy of Rhonda (Cline) Nickel.

James Marion & Minerva Frances (Metzker) Cline with their family on their 50th wedding anniversary, June 25, 1950.
Photo courtesy of Rhonda (Cline) Nickel.

1 - Donna Cline     2 - Becky Cline (?)     5 - Martha (Ridge) Cline     11 - Danny Burkhall (?)     13 - Marguerite (Thompson) Hughes (?)     16 - Avis Ann Martin (?)     17 - Jerry Cline     20 - J.R. Cline     21 - Myrna Kay Cline     22 - Beth Cline     23 - Waneta (Tucker) Cline     24 - Raymond Cline     26 - Leta (Cline) Thompson     31 - J.M. "Jim" Cline     33 - Minerva (Metzker) Cline     36 - Edith (Cline) Martin     38 - Frances (Cline) Burkhall (?)     39 - Bonnie Burkhall     40 - Gloria (Wilson) Cline     44 - Allen Cline (?)     45 - Hueston Cline (?)     46 - Roy Burkhall

Mrs. J.M. Cline Has Made Many Hundreds of Beautiful Quilts.
News clipping dated 31 Dec 1964, courtesy of Rhonda (Cline) Nickel.

Five Generations: Lucy (Allen) Metzker & her descendants.
Marguerite (Thompson) Hughes holding baby, Minerva (Metzker) Cline, Leta (Cline) Thompson.
Lucy (Allen) Metzker sits in front.
Photo courtesy of Rhonda (Cline) Nickel.

Minerva Cline by the piano in her home, Coldwater, Kansas, circa 1963.
Photo courtesy of Rhonda (Cline) Nickel.

Minerva Cline with Seven Children

Minerva Cline, with (I assume) Leta and Kenneth Cline, probably in Evansville, Indiana
Photo & comment courtesy of Rhonda (Cline) Nickel.

Leta, Kenneth and Fred Cline, probably in Evansville, Indiana
"Dad's handwritten note says this is Leta, Kenneth and Fred Cline. I don't know what relation Fred is."
Photo & comment courtesy of Rhonda (Cline) Nickel.

Back: Hueston and Leta Cline. Front: Kenneth, Allen and Edith Cline, Comanche County, Kansas.
Allen was the first child of J.M. and Minerva Cline to be born in Kansas.
Photo & comment courtesy of Rhonda (Cline) Nickel.

Three kids with pups, probably Kenneth, Leta and Edith Cline.
Photo courtesy of Rhonda (Cline) Nickel.

(Probably) Hueston, Edith, Leta and Kenneth Cline.
Photo & comment courtesy of Rhonda (Cline) Nickel.

Minerva (Metzker) Cline with a baby.
Photo courtesy of Rhonda (Cline) Nickel.

Minerva (Metzker) Cline with a baby.
Photo courtesy of Rhonda (Cline) Nickel.

Allen Cline
Allen was the first child of J.M. and Minerva Cline to be born in Kansas.
Photo & comment courtesy of Rhonda (Cline) Nickel.

L-R: J.R. Cline and J.M. Cline homes, 1940s, Coldwater, Kansas

"J.R. & Gloria Cline were married in 1943, and this was their home not long after that. This would be the original house that they added onto through the years. I understand that J.M. Cline built it." -- Comment & photo courtesy of Rhonda (Cline) Nickel.