Irene Hebbe
The Children of William and Mattie Hebbe:
Irene
Mary Irene was born 25 February 1891 in Jefferson County, Kansas
and died 21 April 1992 Enid, Oklahoma. She married 25 February
1925 Herschel T. Cline (1891-1959). Irene loved
dressing in the current fashion and was known for the fancy hats she
wore. She was the most independent of the Hebbe girls, choosing travel
over marriage. She spent weeks at a time with relatives in Kansas and
Missouri and in later years she made numerous excursions with travel
clubs. In 1908, when the family moved from Rose, Kansas to Dover
Oklahoma, Irene chose to visit her sister instead. It may be that Leola
needed help with a toddler and newborn. But Irene’s letter to
Mattie February 29 doesn’t suggest that: “We arrived here
at 11 oclock last night … How do you like your new home? Tell
Delma hello for me. … Austin will be in after us in a little
while. Leola is well.” March 5:
“I’m at Blackwells yet and cant get them to take me any
place. Just like them though. I am mad.”
In 1913 Irene spent at least a month visiting the Kansas
relatives. February 4: “Dear Mother. Arrived safe
& sound am at the W. R. Depot. Talked to Uncle John from the R.S.
My train was 1 hr late so it was daylight when I got here. …
There is snow here, but not like at Dover.” February
5: “We are in Topeka today. Suppose you have gotten the
Letters from Uncle John in this time. How is Papa &
Delma?” February 21: “It is snowing here has
been since Thursday afternoon. But is not cold. … I received
your letter yesterday Aunt Mary sent it to me. Have you heard from
walter yet.” March __: “We are all O K. Same at
Uncle Carls. Will get your letter this eve. It went out to aunt Est.
yesterday. Had begun to think I was a deserted child. Why
don’t Dad write to me? Will go to Aunt Mary’s first of the
week.” March 11: “Dear Daddy. I received
your letter. Will ans soon. Send me some cards of Okla City.”
During the late fall of 1914 Irene spent several weeks visiting kinfolk
who lived near DeKalb,
Missouri. It was then that she learned to drive an automobile, a
notable accomplishment for women in those days. She wrote to her future
husband, Herschel Cline, on November 30: “Your Letter rc’d
and
was indeed delighted to receive same. Sorry I have waited so Long to
answer. But really Hon I have been sick until to-day. I had a chill
Saturday night and a fever all day Sunday. Did not go off the place all
day. Twas rightly hard too for I had a chance to go to a good show in
St. Joseph but thot best to Stay in. … I had a Telephone call at
noon to-day to go to The Lyceum Theater at St Joseph and I certainly
went. It was “The Trail of the Lonesome Pine.” …
what did you do Thanks giving? We all took Dinner at Nola Calls
and in the Evening went to St. Joe to two Shows … at the
Majestic Theatre.” … I never was squeezed so hard in my
life as that night (Now let me explain) We were too late for the first
show so had to stand out in the Lobby of the Theatre until Second Show
and talk about crowds I never seen the like they certainly were packed
in like Sardines in a box. I wondered if I would get out alive.
… (We) Uncle George and I took Supper in St Joseph that night.
Had a lovelyThanksgiving Supper, of course had Turkey and every thing
good that goes with it. I drove most of the way home without any
Lights as we run out of “Juice” [i.e.,the acetylene gas
that fueled their Model T's lamps] Nola and Willie
Started about ten minutes ahead of us … but I caught them Sure
did do some driving for a while. .… Guess I will go out to
Topeka this week for a few days visit. Don’t know just what day I
will be home … The folks here are taking on terrible because I
am seriously thinking of returning to Oklahoma. I will take Dinner with
Uncle George to-morrow. … Don’t tell the folks any
thing about me coming home. For I see they are getting anxious. Never
did think Mamma would say it. I knew they would miss me but did not
think she would [crossed out] it.”
Both
Herschel served in the Army during WW I, as did his brother, Orville
Cline[I 6].
But few specifics about either of their service records are known.
Herschel told one morbidly comedic story: He came down with influenza
during the terrible global flu pandemic that took many millions of
lives. There was no vaccine then. Physicians do little more than
provide palliative care. Herschel was put on a cot in a big room
that held dozens of other flu victims. First thing each morning a medic
would stop by his cot and check to see if his bed could be turned over
to another ill soldier. If Herschel opened his eyes, the medic would
move on down the line. Otherwise, Herschel would have joined the
thousands lying in our military cemeteries in France.
Herschel and Irene had a long courtship and several people probably
figured they never would never get hitched. They finally married on Irene’s
34th birthday, February 25, 1925. Late that year, Will and Mattie moved
into Dover and Herschel and Irene moved into the house Will purchased
in 1908. Herschel rented the farmland from Will and then Mattie
plus he farmed his own father’s land. ( Click here for scenes of farm work.). Nieces and nephews
have fond memories of him. He was jovial and outgoing, a counter-weight to Irene's somber personality.
Herschel had long smoked, and he preferred to "roll his own." A can of
Prince Albert and a pack of cigarette papers could always be found in
his pocket. Complications from his tobbaco habit finally took his life on February 8, 1959.
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| Picture taken about 1943 |
1948 |
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As the years of widowhood went by, the unattractive aspects of Irene's
character became more prominent. Though she did not hesitate to
purchase costly outfits, a penny increase in the postage rate outraged
her--as did many aspects of modern life.. Every dollar was squeezed out
of business dealings. She became suspicious of the motives of some of
those who loved and helped her, alternating affection and verbal abuse.
Apparently she felt guilty about past differences or dealings with her
siblings, and became anxious to clear her conscience. She contributed
large sums to television evangelists. Self-pity along with grief
led her to often tearfully ask, "Why was it Herschel and not me?"
But her pioneer toughness endured. One winter, when retrieving her
mail, she fell on ice and, broke her hip, or a leg bone
near the hip. She crawled up the long driveway, pulling herself
with her elbows, and when back to the house yanked the phone off the
counter to call for help. Even though she was
then in her nineties, she returned from rehab to live alone at the
farm.
Finally, in 1987 Irene moved to an expensive retirement home in Enid,
Oklahoma. She died 21 April 1992 during an outing with a niece.
They were stopped in the line for a bank's drive-up window when Irene’s
heart stopped beating and she slumped over dead. She was 101 years old.
Helen Stein wrote of her: “Irene lived on the home place and
married Herschel Cline. … She was disappointed that her sister
Leola married Blackwell instead of some one more famous. She was
disgusted with the sister Georgia who didn’t marry well. At one
time she was mad that she had to help her mother take care of the
Humphries boys. She thought Mitchell did not do enough for her. She has
taken care of Carol and Helen … She was a real business
woman and took care that she did not lose money. She often told Uncle
Frank that he should always insure his crops so if the hail damaged the
wheat he would still have money from that crop. … I knew
she wanted to be remembered as a real lady and tried to live that way
…”
