ELI C. CLEVELAND
Page 701
ELI C. CLEVELAND
Page 701
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ELI C. CLEVELAND, a retired farmer residing Mason City, was born in Cortland County, N. Y., August 2, 1828. The Cleveland ancestry originated in England, and the family was represented in America at an early period of its settlement. The paternal grandfather of our subject, Benjamin Cleveland, was a native of New Jersey, and his brother Henry was one of the oldest trappers in the vicinity of the present cite of the city of Cleveland. Brainard Cleveland was born in New York, and became one of the pioneers of Seneca County, Ohio. Later he came to Illinois, where his death occurred at the age of eighty-three years. His wife, whose maiden name was Sophia Church, was born in New York, being a daughter of Eli and Elizabeth (Chaddock) Church, natives of New Jersey, the former a wheelwright by trade. At the age of two years our subject accompanied his parents to Ohio, and there, four years later, he was orphaned by the death of his mother. In early boyhood he was a pupil in the common schools, and at the age of twelve years he started out in life for himself, and was afterward variously employed until he learned the carpenter's trade. In the fall of 1856 Mr. Cleveland came to mason County, settling in Havana, and in 1857 was appointed Deputy Sheriff for a term of two years. Upon retiring from that office he settled upon a farm in Crane Creek Township, where he successfully engaged in farming pursuits for many years. In 1885 he came to Mason City and embarked in the livery business, which he conducted for three years. Since that time he has lived retired from active business. As a farmer he was energetic, as a business man efficient and capable, while as a citizen he has always taken an active interest in public affairs. For several years Mr. Cleveland served as School Director in Crane Creek Township, and was the prime factor in the erection of Walker's Grove School House, which was constructed at a cost of $5,000. In his political belief he is a Republican, and is always ready to give his support to the measures advocated by that party. Socially he is identified with Mason City Lodge No. 337, I. O. O. F. April 14, 1852, Mr. Cleveland was united in marriage with Miss Mary Mefford, a native of Knox County, Ohio, and a descendant of French ancestors. Her father, John H. Mefford, a native of Pennsylvania, served as a soldier in the War of 1812, and became an early settler of Ohio, where he died in 1844. Her mother, whose maiden name was Abigail Mitchell, was born in New Jersey, a daughter of W, T. Mitchell, and died in Ohio on 1866. In the Buckeye State Mrs. Cleveland spent the years of girlhood, and in Republica, Seneca County, she became the wife of our subject. They have two children of whom May is deceased; Blanch is the wife of J. H. Riggs, a native of North Carolina, and now a resident of Mason City. In religious belief Mrs. Cleveland is identified with the Methodist Episcopal Church, in the good works of which she takes an active part. |