Weld County, History of Colorado, BIOS: CLINE, William L. (published 1918) *********************************************************************** USGENWEB NOTICE: These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or presentation by other organization or persons. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material, must obtain the written consent of the contributor, or the legal representative of the submitter, and contact the listed USGenWeb archivist with proof of this consent. The submitter has given permission to the USGenWeb Archives to store the file permanently for free access. *********************************************************************** File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by Maggie Stewart-Zimmerman http://www.genrecords.net/emailregistry/vols/00015.html#0003643 September 29, 1999 *********************************************************************** "History of Colorado", edited by Wilbur Fisk Stone, published by The S. J. Clarke Publishing Co. (1918) Vol. II p. 242-243 WILLIAM L. CLINE. William L. Cline, pastor of the Christian church in Greeley and one who has done splendid work since entering the ministry, being recognized as one of the leading representatives of the Christian denomination in this section of the country, was born in Smith county, Kansas, March 30, 1881, a son of D. A. and Docia (Taylor) Cline. The father was born in Kentucky and removed to Kansas in 1879. He devoted his active life to farming and merchandising and was a resident of Kensington, Kansas, until 1908, when he removed to Holton, that state. In 1916 he came to Colorado to make his home with his son, William. He is a most earnest and active church worker and is an ardent supporter of the temperance cause, doing everything in his power to make Colorado a dry state. His time is now devoted to the advancement of work in this direction and his labors have been effective and resultant. William L. Cline of this review has a sister, Fanny, born in 1879, and a brother. Charles, born in 1886. He also has two half brothers: Harry, who works on a ranch; and Frank J., who is superintendent of the Towanda public schools. William L. Cline, whose name introduces this review, was a pupil in the country schools and in the schools of Kensington, Smith county, Kansas, between the ages of eight and seventeen years. His mother died when he was a little lad of but six years. His youthful days were devoted to study in the district schools, after which he took up the profession of teaching for a year, but then he became a student in Drake University and devoted two and a half years to studying for the ministry. On account of impaired health he came to Colorado and took up church work in the Arkansas valley, preaching for a year and a halt in the First Christian church of Manzanola. He also traveled up and down the Snake river doing missionary work and bronco busting. In 1906 he went to the East Side Christian church of Denver, where he held meetings. He afterwards became a student in the University of Colorado at Boulder and at every possible opportunity, by university training, by broad reading and by intense study, he has advanced his knowledge and therefore promoted his power as a minister of the gospel. For four and a half years he engaged in preaching in the church at Berthoud, twenty miles north of Boulder, and before accepting his pastorate at Greeley he devoted seven years to dry farming and had the largest farm of the kind in the state, comprising six thousand acres. Upon this he raised forty thousand bushels of grain in two years-enough to keep five thousand soldiers for a year. At the present writing, in 1918, he preaches for the First Christian church in Greeley. At different times Mr. Cline has held evangelistic meetings and has been called the "boy evangelist." He has also proven a most capable agriculturist and now has twenty-five hundred acres in winter wheat. In a word his is a nature that thoroughly does anything that he attempts and his earnestness of purpose has been one of the strong elements in his success in a material way and in the upbuilding of his church. Sixteen years ago the Des Moines Daily News said in its issue of January 14, 1902: "Though a mere boy in years, Will Cline of Drake has twenty-five converts. He has returned from Ortonville, where he has been holding a series of meetings. He is a student of Drake University and on Sundays preaches in the surrounding towns near his home. At twenty years of age he closed one of the most successful meetings ever held by a student of the university. He is remarkably influential with young men and in the meeting his conversions included a large number of young men who united with the church. Mr. Cline has a very young appearance, is slightly smaller than the average man, trail and a decided blonde. He is a fluent speaker and very entertaining In conversation." The following year the Denver Post said: "Rev. W. Cline, a boy of twenty-one years, fresh from Drake University, has just closed one of the most successful revival meetings at the Christian church at Manzanola, Colorado, in the lower Arkansas valley. The series began January 18th and although many of the nights were stormy and there was a break of two weeks owing to the illness of the pastor, the interest was such that the house was crowded. The great power of this youthful minister is not of the kind that characterizes many of the profession. He does not appeal to the emotions nor burn brimstone to accomplish results. His manner in the pulpit is easy, his delivery is rapid and pleasing, and his logic is clear and convincing, while his manner is persuasive. That which most impresses his hearers is the beauty of the spirit of truth with which he seems so thoroughly imbued and which he reflects in his very countenance, in his everyday life and his personal work as well as in the pulpit." In the East Side Christian church of Denver, on the 3d of June, 1909, Mr. Cline was married to Miss Evelyn Hope McKee, a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. James McKee, the former president of the Live Stock Commission Company and prominently connected with the Denver stock yards, where he is spoken of in the highest terms. He is a native of Canada. Mrs. Cline was graduated from the East Denver high school and engaged in teaching. She became acquainted with Mr. Cline at one of the meetings at the East Side Christian church. To Mr. And Mrs. Cline have been born two children: John, who was born in July, 1911; and James, who was born in 1916 and received a premium as the first baby born in leap year. Mr. Cline is still a young man, having but passed the thirty- seventh milestone on life's journey. He has already, however, accomplished notable good in the world through his efforts in the ministry and he stands today among those whose labors are fraught with success in the effort to uplift the individual and advance the standards of the community. A modern philosopher has said, "Not the good that comes to us, but the good that comes to the world through us, is the measure of our success"; and judged by this standard William L. Cline has been a most successful man.