George T. Cline

From History of Frederick County. p. 1088-1089:

George T. Cline, son of Casper Cline, and a brother of Nicholas O. Cline, was born on his father’s farm near Frederick, March 4, 1825, and died in Chicago, Ill., June 24, 1903.

He attended St. John’s College, Md. Upon the completion of his education he lived upon his father’s farm on the Harper’s Ferry road until the spring of 1858, when he went to visit his cousin, D. G. Evans, in Ohio, where he spent a year. Then he proceeded to Cincinnati, and thence to Chicago. In this city he made his home for many years. In 1859 he embarked in the real estate business. He laid out numerous additions to Chicago, and owned extensive tracts in and near the city, particularly in the manufacturing districts. In 1883, having acquired a fortune, he returned to his native city, and purchased the fine mansion built by the late Benjamin Rutherford and known as Lawndale. This place, situated near the fair grounds consisted of sixty acres, upon which was a very handsome solid brick residence of twenty rooms, built in 1835, then being one of the most substantial structures and one of the finest private homes in that portion of the country. Mr. Cline won the title of colonel while a member of the Chicago Home Guards during the Civil War. He served for the Union in 1863, being in the division commanded by General Shirley during the time when Camp Douglas contained some ten thousand Confederate prisoners. Besides being the possessor of much property in Chicago, he was also the owner of several fine farms near Frederick, and was one of the wealthiest men of the county. He died in Chicago, without issue, and left an estate worth $2,000,000. The most of his property he made by successful investments in real estate in Chicago during the thirty years of his business dealings there. He met with one severe loss, losing $40,000 in unpaid insurance in the great fire of 1871. Politically, Colonel Cline always favored the Democracy,, but voted the opposition ticket a few times on municipal affairs in Chicago, when he considered that it was best. Although often solicited to accept public offices, he steadily declined. Though he was brought up under the influence of parents who were deeply religious and ardent church members, he never identified himself with any denomination, but was a contributor to various worthy church and benevolent enterprises.