In 1850, the family packed up and moved to Williamson County, settling in Crab Orchard Township east of Marion, Illinois. In 1851, they had their second son Albert L. Cline and 11 years later have their last child Sarah Minnie Cline in 1862.
In 1862, the same year as the birth of their last child, Jefferson enlisted in the 110th Illinois Infantry and served the Union till mustered out on June 1865 at the end of the Civil War.
In 1867, Jefferson and Sarilda divorced in Williamson County and two years later Jefferson remarried to Rebecca Weaver. This marriage lasted until 1876 when he would remarry once again, this time to Saphronia Horning.
After the divorce, for reasons unknown, Sarilda takes her two sons John and Albert and her youngest daughter Minnie back to Allen County, Kentucky. Her oldest daughter Arabella had married Peter Mayhew on October 31, 1886 and was then living in the Crab Orchard area.
The 1870 census finds them in Allen County, Kentucky. Sarilda is 43 with no real estate value but does have a personal estate of $1,050, not a shabby amount for 1870. She is supporting her three children. John is now 21, Albert 18 and Sarah Minnie is 8.
It is unknown exactly how long they remained in Kentucky but on February 8, 1874, Albert Cline married Florence McCown, daughter of the late Major W. D. McCown and his wife, Cena A. Norris. Also, , brother, John M. Cline was back here to marry Samuel S. Vick’s daughter Mary Alice Vick
in early 1876
John M. was back here to marry Samuel S. Vick’s daughter Mary Alice Vick in early 1876 so I assume that the entire family has returned by then. An article in the Marion Monitor dated August 21, 1879 states, “Mrs. Cline is moving her hotel into the W.P. Goodall building this week.”
Another article appearing in the Marion Monitor on January 1, 1880 states,” Mrs. Cline, the popular landlady of the Cline House, entertained a number of friends at a sumptuous Christmas dinner last Thursday. Among the invited guests were Mr. J.H. Manier and lady, Mr. John Lee and lady, Shannon Holland and lady, the writer and lady, and the “regulars,” including Miss Katie Schuey, Mr. M.S. Strike, Mr. C.H. Sauther, Mr. Joseph Barham and others. The dinner was such as one as only Mrs. Cline and her handsome daughter Minnie can prepare, and was enjoyed to the utmost by all present.”
Indeed, Sarilda had returned and created “Cline House” at the Goodall building located on the north side of the square just east of N. Market Street. A building which amazingly still exists today and currently houses Shivelbines Music store.
This is all reinforced by the 1880 census in which she lists herself as a divorced hotel keeper. In this census she is living at 206 S. Market Street not far from Willis Allen, J.B Bainbridge and Leroy Goddard. Living with her are her daughter Minnie, now 18, and four boarders. Both of her sons live nearby as well.
In 1889, daughter Minnie marries a merchant by the name of Joseph L. Hall.
In the census of 1900, Minnie and Joseph Hall are occupying the home of Sarilda who has now reached 74 at 206 S. Market. Her son John M. Cline was living at 208 S. Market.
By the 1910 census, Sarilda has reached the age of 84 and is still living in her home but as a boarder. The head of household is a 40 year old widow by the name of Hannah M. Simmons who has a 12 year old son named Champ.
Sarilda’s home was acquired in 1914 by the city of Marion, Illinois for the sum of $5,003.17 from Sarilda Cline and her heirs. The Marion Carnegie Library building was constructed in 1915 with a grant of $18,000 from the Andrew Carnegie Foundation.
Sarilda Cline passed away on March 3, 1917 and was buried on the 4th at Rose Hill Cemetery.
The library stands on the site of the former “Grandma Cline” residence.
See Also, Cline, Sarilda J., Mystery at the Library
Sam’s Notes:
Jefferson Cline had one more child by his third wife Saphronia named Royce Cline in 1878. Royce died in 1925. Jefferson died November 23, 1894 and is buried at the Coal Bank Springs Cemetery in Williamson County, Illinois.
Minnie (Cline) was widowed about 1905 and remarried in 1908 to Benjamin Bracy who owned a clothing store and already had a son named Lloyd P. Bracy from a previous marriage. The couple moved to St. Petersburg, Florida after Sarilda’s death and spent time in the 1920’s there but returned to Marion before 1929. Minnie was widowed a second time when Benjamin died on May 10, 1929. In the 1930 census, she is 68, widowed and living in the home of her sister in law Mary Alice, widowed wife of John M. Cline at 507 S. Market St. which Alice owns.
Albert L. Cline was born in this county September 20, 1861. He married Florence McCown, daughter of Major J.D. McCown who died at Mounds Illinois during the Civil War. Albert started up in the grocery business in 1878, which he followed through his life. Albert and his wife lived at 507 S. Market St.
The couple had six children, but only three made it through early childhood. The living children were Albert Elmose Cline, Earl D. Cline and Lawrence Cline. Earl followed his father into the grocery business.
Albert served as City Treasurer for two years and was active in the building of the M.E. Church south along with his brother John, as well as serving on the church board as director and President. He was a major shareholder and President of the Marion Pressed Brick Plant located near the I.C. tracks just off N. Carbon St. Albert L. Cline died in February 1922 and is buried at Rose Hill.
Arabella (Cline) Mayhew was widowed after having six children and remarried David Chaney in 1887. The children from her first marriage were Alice Mayhew (1867- ), Victoria Mayhew (1869-1928), Estelle Mayhew (1872-1920), Arthur A. Mayhew (1874- ), Minnie Bell (1876- ) and Lilly May Mayhew (1880-1928). Arabella (Cline) Chaney died October 10, 1927.
(Data extracted from Marion Monitor records; Federal Census Records; Marion City Cemetery Records; Ancestry.com; Marion Carnegie Library Website; Compiled by Sam Lattuca on 02/28/2013)