Portrait and Biographical Album of Fulton County,
Illinois: containing full page portraits and biographical sketches of
prominent and representative citizens of the county: together with
portraits and biographies of all the presidents of the United States,
and governors of the state; Biographical Pub. Co., Chicago, IL; 1890;
page 213-214; Transcribed by Margaret Rose Whitehurst
Hon. William N. Cline, M. D. Success in any profession can
only be attained through industry and study, and the good physician
must necessarily be the hardest of workers and best of students.
Fulton County is proud to number among her physicians the one with
whose name we will introduce this sketch. His career presents a
remarkable example of what may be accomplished by assiduous application
and unremitting toil. A most conscientious man, whatever he
undertakes is done thoroughly. In one respect he differs from the
majority of the human race, in that age mellows and softens his nature,
instead of the reverse, as is often the case. With every onward
movement made in the science to which he has devoted his life, he is
familiar, and time has served only to enlarge his views and broaden his
ideas.
In Rockingham County, Va., Dr. Cline was born December 10, 1820,
to Joseph and Isabella (Pence) Cline, both of whom were natives of the
Old Dominion. The father was of German, and the mother of
Scotch-Irish descent. They were married in Virginia, where for
many years afterward they continued to reside, removing thence to Ohio,
where the mother died. The father removed to Illinois in 1855,
and died in 1868. To them were born seven children, four of whom
are living at this writing, namely: Mrs. Albright, of Rockford,
Ill.; Joseph C., George W., and William N. The father and mother
were worthy people who gave to their children all the advantages
possible, and reared them to worthy manhood and womanhood. Their
honorable and upright lives were not the least of the heritage which
they transmitted to their children.
In the parental family, our subject was the eldest
child, and until fifteen years of age, resided at the old homestead in
Virginia. The father was a man of great prominence, having
represented his district in the Legislature of Virginia for a long
period of years, and being besides connected with public works of the
State, and a magistrate of the County Court. William N.
accompanied his father to Ohio, and in 1840, having determined upon a
professional career, became a student in the Jefferson Medical College,
Philadelphia; he had previously received a thorough training in a
private school in Virginia, as well as in the schools of Ohio.
Thus, by thorough application and close study, he laid the foundation
for his future success.
In 1842 the Doctor came West, locating in what was then
Centerville, but now Cuba, Ill., and beginning the practice of medicine
at once. His thorough training and previous experience in Ohio
made it comparatively easy for him to win the confidence of the people,
and his success was assured from the start. His practice
increased rapidly each year, and his long experience now renders his
opinions and decisions valuable. By means of his energy, tact,
and liberality, he is able to materially advance the interests of the
community where he resides.
Dr. Cline has been twice married, his first wife being Miss
Lois, daughter of Martin and Susan Webster, the father a wealthy
agriculturalist of Lewistown Township, this county. Mrs. Cline
was born in the State of New York, near Chautaugua, and received an
excellent education, of which, prior to her marriage, she made use in
teaching. Her union with our subject took place May 30, 1844, and
they had a family of five children, two of whom are deceased. The
three now living, are: Mrs. F. E. Kingsbury, of Des Moines, Iowa;
Clara L., (Mrs. Merrill), who lives in Rialto, Cal., and Ross C., who
is City Ticket Agent for the Wabash Railroad at Toledo, Ohio.
Mrs. Cline died in 1866.
The second union of our subject was celebrated December 21,
1869, when Mrs. James S. Talcott, of East Hartford, Conn., became his
bride. She was a native of Connecticut, where she received a good
education, and was at one time a teacher in the seminary at
Manchester. She is a most intellectual and cultivated lady, and
wins friends wherever she goes. She comes of illustrious
ancestry, being a member of one of the most highly respected families
in Connecticut, and who were of aristocratic Puritan origin. Her
parents, Solomon and Phebe Spencer, were natives of Connecticut, and
are not deceased.
In whatever community Dr. Cline has resided, he has always held
important offices, and has taken a prominent part in the management of
public affairs. Politically, he is a stanch Democrat, and a
strong advocate of temperance. On the adoption of township
organization he was for a number of years a member of the Board of
Supervisors from Putman Township, later was for one term School
Commissioner of Fulton County. He represented the county in the
State Legislature in 1 855-56, and in 1857 was elected President
of the Mississippi & Wabash Railway (now that portion of the
Toledo, Peoria & Western, between Peoria, Ill., and Keokuk, Iowa)
then in process of construction.
At the commencement of the war, railroad building ceased, and
Dr. Cline accepted the Presidency of the Farmers’ and Merchants’
Insurance Company, Quincy, Ill., which position he held six years; he
then resigned as President of that company to accept the same position
with the Fulton County Coal Company at Cuba. In 1877 he again
resumed the practice of his profession, which he still continues.
He is now, and has been since its organization, President of the Cuba
Library Association, an institution of which he is very proud. He
is now, and has for several years been President of Cuba Improvement
Association, and of the Cuba Building and Loan Association, the latter
organization being one of great benefit to the county.
It will thus be seen that for forty years he has held positions
of trust, responsibility and honor, conferred upon him by his
fellow-citizens or associates in business. Gifted by nature with
high endowments, he has cultivated these to the utmost, and his
indefatigable labor has brought to him the esteem of his fellow-men.
