Andrew J. Cline
Among the self-made men of Fayette County none deserve greater credit than the subject of our sketch, who is in possession of a comfortable amount of this world's goods, obtained by hard labor and good management. At the beginning, when starting out in life for himself, he made it a rule to live within his income, and this resolve, closely followed, has given him an independence, than which there is no more pleasant thing in the world. He is at present residing on his farm in Jasper Township, Fayette County.
Our subject is the son of George and Catherine (Feagins) Cline, the father born in 1809, in Pennsylvania, and the mother in this county, in 1813. The elder Mr. Cline was the son of Philip and Mary Jane (Turner) Cline, natives of the Old Dominion, who came to Ohio in 1813, and made settlement on a raw tract of land in Clinton County. Mrs. Cline was the daughter of Edward and Elizabeth (Bush) Feagins, natives, respectively, of Kentucky and Virginia. Her parents were married in this county over eighty years ago, at which time they located on Rattlesnake Creek, Concord Township, where Mr. Feagins cleared up a farm. He was a soldier in the War of 1812, and, with his good wife, was highly esteemed in the county. They were the parents of eight children, four of whom are living.
Mr. and Mrs. George Cline, on making this county their permanent home, located upon a tract of unimproved land, where the mother is still a resident, being the oldest settler now living in this section. She is hale and hearty, and has under cultivation three hundred and forty-five acres of valuable land. The father of our subject was School Director and Road Supervisor, during the incumbency of which latter office he rendered great service to the traveling public. He was a Democrat in politics, casting his first vote for Andrew Jackson, and his last for Grover Cleveland. Four of their children are still living. Edward makes his home in Clinton County. During the late war he was Orderly Sergeant of Company F, One Hundred and Sixty-eighth Ohio Infantry, and has been one of the Commissioners of Clinton County for six years. William S. Cline resides in Jasper Township; Mary K. is the wife of Simon Jamison, has three children, and resides in Livingston County, Ill.; and Andrew J., of this sketch, was the youngest in order of birth. Mr. Cline died January 28, 1888.
He of whom we write was born July 4, 1841, in this township, growing to manhood on the old homestead. He was permitted to attend the common schools but a few months during the winter season, but at such times acquired sufficient knowledge to give him an impetus to gain more. He remained under the parental roof until reaching his majority, when he started out empty-handed to earn a name and fortune for himself.
In 1864, Elizabeth H. Nelson became the wife of our subject. She was the daughter of Samuel Nelson, of Ross County. Her parents dying when she was very young, she was then taken into the home and heart of her aunt, Hannah Shelton. Mrs. Cline was born July 3, 1843, in Ross County. Twelve years ago Mr. Cline located upon his present farm, which contains ninety acres. His estate is improved with substantial buildings, the most attractive among which is his comfortable residence, which was erected three years ago. His large barn was built in the fall of 1891, and affords ample room for the storage of grain and shelter of stock.
Mr, and Mrs. Cline have been granted a family of three children: Mary Catherine, now Mrs. E. Weaver, has one child, and resides in Jasper Township; Samuel N. and Philip P. They have all been given every advantage for obtaining good educations, and Mary, previous to her marriage, taught school. Mrs. Cline is a conscientious member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and is active in all good works. Our subject is Director of his school district, and in politics, is a believer in Democratic principles. He has been the incumbent of the positions of Township Trustee and Supervisor, and is accorded the respect of all who know him.
From PORTRAIT & BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD OF FAYETTE, PICKAWAY AND MADISON COUNTIES, OHIO - Chapman Bros. [Chicago, 1892]