From "History of Wheeling City and Ohio County, West Virginia and 
Representative Citizens," by Hon. Gibson Lamb Cranmer, 1902. 

Typed by Laurie Birks Dean

pp. 493-494

Robert D. CLINE, chief of the fire department of Wheeling, Ohio 
county, West Virginia, whose portrait is herewith shown, was first 
appointed to the important position in 1899 by the mayor and city 
council.  The department under him has been conducted so well that 
his yearly reappointment has followed as a matter of course, 
especially since his executive ability has been shown throughout the 
whole department.  Mr. Cline was born June 8, 1856.  He is a son of 
W. W. and Rebecca M. (Deggs) Cline.
	W. W. Cline was born in Wheeling, and during his life was an 
expert blacksmith.  He died at the age of seventy-nine years.  
Rebecca M. (Deggs) Cline was born in 1826, and was the daughter of 
Robert T. and Rebecca (Evans) Deggs.  Her father was a saddler by 
trade, and owned and conducted one of the finest saddlery shops in 
Wheeling.  His death took place at St. Louis, Missouri, at the 
advanced age of eighty-five years.  The maternal grandmother of 
Robert D. Cline attained the age of eighty-one years.
	Mr. Cline's parents were married in 1843, and had 24 children, 
all of whom are deceased except Robert D. and two sisters.  One 
sister married and left home, but the remaining sister and Robert D. 
still reside at the home place, the solace and comfort of the aged 
mother, who has been a devout member of the M. E. church since her 
childhood.  Some time after their marriage Mr. Cline's parents 
purchased a family Bible, in which they placed the records of their 
marriage and of the birth of their children, and which they keep to-
day as a family relic.  Mr. Cline's mother also has a little chair, 
given to her by her father sixty-five years ago, when she was a 
child, which she also keeps as a relic.
	Mr. Cline's early years were spent in obtaining mental 
instruction in the Wheeling public schools, and at the age of 
seventeen years he began work as a railroad contractor, and continued 
at this for several years.  At the age of twenty-seven he entered the 
fire department of the city of Wheeling, and has been interested in 
this work ever since, with the exception of a short time spent in the 
hotel business. 
	Mr. Cline is a Republican, and has taken an active part in 
politics for several years.  Fraternally, he is a charter member of 
Wheeling Lodge, No. 114, K. of P.; Reliance Lodge, No. 18, A. O. U. 
W., and Lodge No. 28, B. P. O. E.  In religious views he favors the 
M. E. church.  He resides at No. 1516 Jacob street.  Mr. Cline is a 
man of studious habits, and has improved himself much by traveling.  
Each year he takes a vacation, spending it at different points of 
interest, and through these means he has become an accomplished 
conversationalist.