Mr. J. C. W. Kline died at his home in Blair Thursday afternoon, January 10th, from malignant tumor of the stomach. Wright Kline was born March 6, 1850 in Cumberland, Maryland, and was the oldest of a large family of children. In 1851 his parents started to California, but stopped at Council Bluffs and came to Washington county in 1856, settling at Cuming City. So Mr. Kline’s life has been almost contemporaneous with the settlement of this part of Nebraska. His father died in 1872 when he took charge of the estate which comprised a large amount of land in this county, and he manifested a rare business ability in successfully handling the estate. He was elected county surveyor in 1873 which position he held until 1881, since which time he has been connected with the civil engineering department of the C. & N.W. railroad, with the exception of five years in which he was engaged in the hardware business in Oakland. He was married in 1888 to Miss Cleo Hardy of Muncie, Indiana and from this union two children were born, Louis and Kenwood, He united with the old Cuming City Baptist church about thirty five years ago, later uniting with the Congregational church. He leaves to mourn his loss a wife and two boys, an aged mother, two brothers and five sisters. The funeral services were held at his late home Saturday afternoon, Rev. Tingley of the Baptist church officiating. The Woodmen of the World, of which he was a member, conducted the services at the grave.

#2-19 Jan., 1901 - Blair Courier - J. C. W. Kline

J. C. W. Kline died at his home in this city last Thursday afternoon from a malignant tumor in the stomach. He had felt the effects of its growth for some months, but would not give up his work until about three weeks before he died. During this last period he suffered much and was only able to bear the severe pain with the use of opiates. Dr. B. F. Monroe was faithful in attendance, and during the illness called three expert Omaha physicians in consultation. There was no hope, for medicine could not cure, and it was impossible to operate. His rapid decline almost dazed his faithful wife, who smoothed the downward path with loving devotion and care. The funeral was conducted from the house on Saturday afternoon by Rev. C. E. Tingley, whose father conducted the funeral services of Mr. Kline’s father many years ago. Mr. Kline was born in Cumberland Co., Md. March 6, 1850, the eldest of a large family of children. He came to this county and settled at Cuming City in 1856 where his father died in 1872. This threw the burdens of the family and the estate on Mr. Kline and the ability with which he performed the task has often been the subject of remarks in our presence. In ’73 he was elected surveyor of this county and served in that capacity until ’87 when he went into the employ of the C. & N.W. railroad. He was married to Miss Cleo Hardy in Muncie, Indiana in ’88 and to them two bright boys were born, who with the aged mother, two brothers and five sisters now mourn his early demise. He united with the Baptist church at Cuming City some thirty five years ago, later uniting with the Congregational church. The W.O.W. lodge, of which he was a member, marched out to the cemetery in the funeral procession and conducted the burial service.

~~~Obituaries courtesy of the Nebraska Washington County Genealogical Society. Newspaper clippings on file in the Blair, Nebraska Public Library~~~

Find a Grave Memorial #115927310