Sarah M. Keyes was born on Sunday, May 20, 1855 near Climax, a small town southeast of the city of Kalamazoo in Kalamazoo County, Michigan. Her parents, Orlando and Lucinda (Shook) Keyes, had left Cambria, Niagara County, New York and moved to Climax in 1851, where Orlando's mother Hannah (Francis) Keyes had settled around 1835. Hannah was now living at Prairie Ronde with second husband George Fletcher.
Sarah's father was first a cooper, then a minister. When she was eleven, Sarah witnessed her father's suffering with Chronic Dysentery, contracted while serving as Chaplain of the 12th Michigan Infantry during the Civil War, from which disease he died January 12, 1866.
Sarah M. Keyes was eighteen years old, residing at Climax, MI, when she was married to thirty-four-year-old Riley P. Page of Charlotte, Eaton County, MI, whose occupation was "agent." They were married on December 24, 1873, in Charlotte by L. W. Earl, Minister of the Gospel. Witnesses were F. A. Ells of Charlotte and Alice M. Bray.
The newlyweds soon settled in Kalamazoo County, where all of their children were born: Bernice M., born on November 23, 1874, at Comstock; Juddie, born on July 31, 1876; and Charles Orlando, born on July 31, 1878, at Climax. Also living with them were R.P.'s two children from his first marriage: George Hudson and Elsie. During this time Riley's occupation was listed as "sewing machine agent."
In 1879, less than a month after Charles' first birthday and within a twelve-day period, Elsie, Bernice and Juddie Page died of diphtheria. According to notes left by Charles' first wife Maude, "Charles had it too but surmounted." Juddie died on August 28, Bernice on August 29, and Elsie on September 9. The suffocating disease was sweeping Michigan, and in its wake the Page family was decimated. The children were buried in the Gilson or West Climax Cemetery at Scotts, in Kalamazoo County, and the Pages moved to Charlotte. There, the survivors were listed in the 1880 Federal census: Riley P., 39, and a traveling salesman; Sarah M., 26; Charles, one year old; and George, 16, and working in a "marble shop." Not many years later Riley divorced Sarah and returned to New York, whence he had originally come, where he became a shoemaker and remarried.
Sarah (Keyes) Page was married to Harvey Olmstead "H.O." Cline at Kalamazoo on August 7, 1890. At time of marriage, Harvey's occupation was "clerk," and he was a resident of LaGrange, IN. Sarah was a resident of Kalamazoo, MI. They were united by N. J. Cogshall, Clergyman. Witnesses were Rev. C. C. McCabe of New York City and Rev. J. C. Floyd of Albion, MI.
[C. C. McCabe, D.D, LL.D., Secretary of the Missionary Society of the Methodist Episcopal Church, wrote the article: One Hundred Million a Year for Evangelizing the World, which was included in Edward Payson Tenney's book The Triumphs of the Cross, published in 1895.]
H.O. had been married before to Fanny Aldrich. Harvey, occupation farmer, and Fanny were married September 3, 1882, at Sturgis, St. Joseph Co., MI, by David Knox, Justice of the Peace. They each listed their place of residence as Bloomfield, IN. Witnesses were Leonard Malone and Delbert Vankirk, both of LaGrange, IN. Harvey and Fanny had two sons, both born in Indiana: Frank in July 1883 and Glen W. in February 1885.
After H.O. and Sarah were married, the new Cline family moved to Lansing, in Ingham County, where they were living at 820 Capitol Street in 1900. In the household at that time were: Harvey, Sarah and Glen W. Cline, and Charles Page. That year, Frank Cline was staying with his grandparents Samuel and Mary A. Cline at Bloomfield, Lagrange County, Indiana. Shortly thereafter the Clines moved to Harwood Street in Lansing, where Charles O. and his new bride, the former Maude Annabelle Castner, also lived during the first years of their marriage.
[By 1910 Frank Cline was living in Lansing and in the retail hardware business. Later he moved to Mason and became deputy sheriff, and then undersheriff, for Ingham County. Glen Cline lived in Meridian Township, Ingham County, and worked as a retail merchant in a department store. Charles O. Page was proprietor of a cigar store by 1910 and worked in a paint store by 1920. Later he became a house painter/decorator.]
Harvey Cline won election for sheriff of Ingham County in 1907 (a term which lasted until 1911), so the family, including the Pages, moved to the county seat at Mason. During these years, Charles was a "cigar maker," and Maude frequently traveled with Sheriff Cline when necessary to transport female prisoners. One picture of the group, or family, on a picnic not long after Howard Page was born, shows: Charles, Maude, Margaret and Howard; Louise (a friend of Maude's); Sheriff Harvey and Sarah (Sarah's pet name was "Bunch"); and Harvey's deputy Bert. [H.O. would twice be elected sheriff of Ingham County. Terms in office were: 1907 to 1911 and 1915 to 1919.]
Harvey was known as a "swapper" or "trader" and was involved in numerous enterprises, primarily real estate. He owned a farm in Indiana (possibly an inheritance) but lived mostly in Ingham County, Michigan. He was named after his mother's father.
Sarah died of cancer Sunday June 4, 1911. It is said that she was laid to rest at the Gilson or West Climax Cemetery at Scotts, Kalamazoo County, near her father. However, there has never been a headstone erected for her.
The following two newspaper articles appeared in the Ingham County News, a Mason, Michigan, paper:
May 25, 1911-
Mrs. H. O. Cline of Lansing, wife of ex-sheriff Cline, was taken to Dr. Peterson's hospital, 621 Forrest Avenue, Ann Arbor, last Thursday, where a slight operation was made Saturday morning. The main operation will be made June 1st.
June 8, 1911-
News was received here Monday morning of the death of Mrs. Harvey O. Cline, wife of ex-sheriff Cline, which occurred at Dr. Peterson's hospital at Ann Arbor Sunday at midnight. Death resulted from an operation for cancer.
About ten days ago a preliminary operation was performed which was considered very successful, but she was unable to withstand the shock from the principal operation which was performed last Saturday afternoon.
After Mr. Cline's term of office as sheriff expired they purchased a home and moved to 1214 E. Michigan Avenue, Lansing. During their residence here they made many warm friends, who sincerely regret the sad occurrence.
Mrs. Cline was 51 years of age, and besides the husband is survived by her mother, a sister, a brother and three sons. She was a member of the Rebekahs, the Royal Neighbors, and the Mason L.O.T.M.M. The body was taken to Scotts, Kalamazoo County, for burial, where funeral services will be held today at the home of her mother.
The following notice of death is taken from the Thursday June 8, 1911 issue of the Climax Cereal, a Kalamazoo Co., MI, newspaper:
Mrs. H. O. Cline of Lansing, who will be well remembered here as Miss Sarah Keyes, daughter of Mrs. Lucinda Keyes, passed from this life Sunday night at Ann Arbor, where she had been the two weeks previous for treatment. The funeral will be held Thursday at 1:30 p.m. at the home of James Powers. Interment will be made at the Gilson cemetery.
Lola Mae Richards Milliman, granddaughter of Sarah's ex-husband Riley P. Page, had assumed the role as manager/editor of the Climax (Kalamazoo Co., MI) Cereal newspaper's Scotts Dept. in June 1911, which may account for the extensive coverage of her late aunt's death.
The following is Sarah's obituary dated June 15, 1911 and published in the Scotts portion of the Climax Cereal newspaper:
The deceased was married to Harvey O. Cline 22 years ago. Most of their married life was spent at Lansing, their late home.
She leaves to mourn her loss, besides her husband, one son, Charles Page of Battle Creek, by her first husband; also her sons Frank and Glenn Cline of Lansing; an aged mother, Mrs. Lucinda Keyes; one sister Mrs. Irena Powers both of Scotts, one brother, Lyman E. Keyes of Clinton, Missouri, four grand children, Margaret and Howard Page of Battle Creek, Wilma and Glenn Franklin Cline of Lansing and a host of friends.
Mrs. Cline's father, Rev. Orlando Keyes, Chaplin of the 12th Michigan Vet. Volunteers, died when she was a child leaving her together with five brothers and sisters in her mother's care. From that time on Mrs. Cline has struggled with the problems of the world and owing to her diligence and an inherited ingenuity it can be truthfully said she has won success to a marked degree. To her there was no such word as "fail." Nearly all her life has been spent in Michigan except nine years when she operated a millinery store in Angola, Indiana. In business she was very successful owing to her pleasing manners and adaptability in solving the problems at hand.
Mrs. Cline possessed many marked traits of character that will long be cherished and held in memory and respect by her many friends. As a wife she was all that even the most exacting could expect and her husband says "The very best is none too good for Mrs. Cline for she richly deserves it."
As a mother she was perfect--none could better fill the place. As a daughter she was ever dutiful and mindful of her mother's welfare and happiness, as a sister she was kind and loving and will be greatly missed.
During the time Mr. Cline was sheriff of Ingham Co. Mrs. Cline won the respect and admiration of all who came in touch with her position. To the two thousand prisoners who came under her care she was a true adviser and many a wayward one has been led to reform due to her kindness and motherly advice.
Mrs. Cline will be greatly missed by her sister members of the Lady Maccabees, Royal Neighbors of America and Rebekahs, of which orders she was a prominent member. It has been said "All is for the best," but for those left behind it is so hard to comprehend. Let us think of her as simply "at rest." We do not believe that death can possibly be the end.
She is not dead, neither is she sleeping. The gentle soul we loved and cherished is ever, its loving vigil keeping, and in God's care, it cannot perish.
The form lying here so cold and quiet, was only the transient earthly dwelling to shield the soul from winds that riot and storms which swept her soul in telling. Her life has been one long bitter struggle. Her early dreams and ideals shattered, her pathway seemed ever so rough and rugged. At times, her soul, lay bruised and battered. Out from the storms, she would rise undaunted. With smiling face, her burden she carried, with never the blessing of all that she wanted. With hope deferred, her spirit was harried. She would not be crushed by storm or tempest, but bravely strove, her fate to alter. And though we shall feel, that death has bereft us, let us learn from her to never falter.
Ever a helpful and kindly neighbor, her smiling face was always welcome. Her hand was ready to help them labor. Her absent face will leave a vacuum.
A loving wife and a tender mother, has left a husband sad and grieving. And to the sons there'll ne'er be another to fill the place, she now is leaving. Her aged mother, who still survives her, will look upon her form with sorrow, but soon she'll walk in peace beside her, and learn the mystery on the morrow. For the veil which screens the mystic portal by unseen hands will then be lifted. Their spirit freed from all that mortal may soar to heights where clouds are rifted.
The brother and sister, too, who loved her, will for a time, walk in the shadows, but the courage and spirit which moved her will lead them into flowing meadows. To the host of other friends who linger, and o'er the mystic problem wonder, to you she'd point a beckoning finger to the rift in the clouds up yonder.
Last modified: Monday June 15, 2009
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