Commodore Perry Cline

BILZ, CLINE, EPPARD, TRAPP, WEAVER, WILLIAMSON

Posted By: Judy Wight Branson (email)
Date: 8/15/2004 at 14:23:09

“History of Madison County Iowa and Its People”
Herman A. Mueller, Supervising Editor
Chicago, The S. J. Clarke Publishing Company, 1915

C. P. Cline, the proprietor of the Pilot Grove Farm on sections 3, 4 and 9, Penn township, is especially interested in the raising of thoroughbred stock. He is a native of the county, born in Douglas township on the 3d of November, 1854, and a son of Frederick and Mary (Williamson) Cline, both natives of Ohio, the father of Ross county and the mother of Guernsey county. The mother accompanied her parents upon their removal in 1836 to what is now Louisa county, this state, although it was then a part of Wisconsin territory. The father also settled in Louisa county at an early day and there they both grew to maturity, met and were married. In 1854 they came to Madison county and entered land in Jackson township, the father devoting the balance of his life to farming here. He served in the Union army during the Civil war, enlisting at Winterset, and was promoted to the rank of corporal. He passed away on the 9th of November, 1881, and was survived by his widow until the 7th of May, 1893.

C. P. Cline was reared in Jackson township, where he attended the public schools and thus prepared himself to take an intelligent part in the life of his community. He received other training, however, that was equally as valuable, as under his father's instruction he early learned practical methods of agriculture. After his father's demise he assumed charge of the home place, which he cultivated until 1889. In that year he removed to Penn township and purchased two hundred and eighty-four and a half acres of land on sections 3, 4 and 9. He immediately began its improvement and has since operated it, being very successful as a general farmer and as a stock-raiser.

Mr. Cline specializes in thoroughbred Poland China hogs and Polled Angus cattle. For many years he fed one hundred and fifty head of cattle annually but as he has acquired more than a competence he is now taking things somewhat easier and feeds only about a carload per year. He has other business interests aside from his farm, being a stockholder in the Citizens State Bank of Earlham and president of the Pitzer Farmers Mutual Telephone Company of Pitzer.

On the 25th of March, 1892, Mr. Cline was married to Miss Laura Eppard, a daughter of J. A. and Jane (Weaver) Eppard, natives of Virginia, who became residents of Madison county at an early day in the history of this part of the state. The father engaged in farming here until 1914, when he and his wife removed to St. Charles, where they are now living.

Mr. and Mrs. Cline have become the parents of four children: Pearl, the wife of Emanuel Bilz, who is conducting the Iowa Hotel of Des Moines; Ruth, now Mrs. Glenn Trapp, of Des Moines; Fred, who died when two years of age; and Blanche, who passed away in 1894 when but seven months old.

Mr. Cline is a Democrat in politics, is a member of the Christian church and fraternally is connected with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. These associations indicate much concerning his interests aside from business and in all relations of life he is willing to discharge the duties devolving upon him. He has served for two years as trustee of his township and last November was reelected to that office, his excellent record commending him to his constituents.

Madison Biographies maintained by Linda Griffith Smith.
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