Clarence Wesley Cline
Clarence Wesley "Skeet" Cline was born July 17, 1902, to George and Frences Myers
Cline at Deerhead, Kansas. He had one brother, Frank, and two sisters, Dora Freeman
who died in childbirth at age 29, and Ethel Long-Mehl. All are deceased.
At the early age of 12 he started working on the Wells Ranch and later on the
Burton-Hammond Ranch. When about 16 years of age, he started work for "Bud" Gentry
at Deerhead.
Beulah McGarvin was born March 28, 1905, to James and Lulu Barton McGarvin, 5
miles south of Deerhead, near the present R.Q. Mills home. She had 2 sisters Fay
(died in infancy) and Velma Mills.
Beulah and her sister were raised by their grandparents. J.H. "Bud" and Alice
Gentry. Grandma Gentry traveled extensively doctoring for arthritis at Kansas City
and Hot Springs, Arkansas, taking Beulah and Velma with her. They attended school
wherever they went. Beulah graduated from the 8th grade at Deerhead and from Lake
City High School.
Beulah and "Skeet" were married in June, 1924, at Pratt, Kansas, making their
home 1/4 mile east of Deerhead for a few years, then in various places in the
community. They had 3 sons, William, Wesley Jr., James, and a daughter, Alice
Gerstner.
In 1928 they bought some of the Gentry's cows and stared operating the Gentry
Ranch. The Gentrys moved to Medicine Lodge. Cline's sons joined the ranching as
they became old enough.
Over the years "Skeet" bought several hundred acres of land. Wes joined the
Navy in 1944, and Jim joined the Army in 1945. In 1946 Beulah and "Skeet" bought
a home in Medicine Lodge, 820 N. Walnut, where they lived four years.
Wes and Jim returned from the service and lived on the ranch, Jim with wife
and family. "Skeet" needed something to keep him busy, so he worked at the John
Deere store (located where the post office is located).
In 1950 they built a basement and moved a house on it, about a mile east of
Deerhead, remodeled the house, and covered it with brick and native rock. Great
Uncle Ed Cline did the brick and rock laying at age 81.
"Skeet" became active again in the ranch, and in 1959, Jime sold out. "Skeet"
passed away February 2, 1968, with emphysema.
Beulah sold her interest to Jim; she continues, however, to live in her ranch
home with her son, Wesley.
Source:Chosen Land - Barber County, Kansas, pg. 133
Submitted by: Beulah Cline