Wednesday, September 9, 2015

Major John A. Cline.

Its not known just when Major Cline came to Kansas, but he settled in Ford county in 1878.  He settled on section 17, of Wheatland township.  In 1878 a post office was started and a small store, the post office was called Bellefont.  A town was officially platted in July, 1885

Major Cline, was born On January 7, 1837. in Pennsylvania?. He was one of the founders of Bellefont, Kansas, along with George M. Hoover, who were the owners of the land.

Major Cline would become Postmaster and was a dealer in General Merchandise.

He was a Civil War Veteran being in the 155th., Pennsylvania Infantry Co. F.  Mustered in September 11, 1862; Promoted from Captain company K., January 23, 1865; Mustered out with regiment on June  2, 1865.

Major Cline received a pension, his wound; Gunshot to the left hand and Shoulder.  What battled he was wounded in is not stated.

Major Cline later moved to Edwards County, Kansas, near or in Kinsley, Kansas, where he died on July 10, 1915, leavening no wife or children that I can find.

His burial Hillside Cemetery, Kinsley, Edwards County, Kansas..

Bellefont, Kansas.

Bellefont - Long before the village of Bellefont was officially established, it had a post office that first opened in April, 1878. A town was officially platted in July, 1885 by J.A. Cline and George M. Hoover, land owners, who believed that it would become a railhead for the Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe Railroad. However, the railroad did not build a junction there as was hoped for and the community never developed very much. It did sustain for several years as a small farming community, once boasting a general store, a grocery store and a depot in its early years. By 1896, the post office was closed, but it reopened in 1904. By 1910, the population was just 40, but the town served as a shipping and supply point for that part of the county. The town's post office closed forever in June, 1957. Situated about 22 miles northeast of Dodge City on Highway 50, today there are but a few farms and a grain elevator.

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