Mr. Cleveland was born August 2, 1831, in Portland county, New York. His father, Brainard Cleveland, and his mother, formerly Miss Sophia Church, were also natives of the same State and county. They raised three children: Elizabeth, the wife of Robert Laphan, Eli C., and Mrs. Mary (Remar) Van Pelt. After the birth of two children they moved to Seneca county, Ohio, where they were among the first settlers. Here the mother of his three children died. Mr. Cleveland was a resident of this county some thirty years, during which time he was again married twice. The second wife was a Miss Esther Keep, by whom he had three children: Miss Sophia, George, and Emma, now the wife of John Aiken. The third wife was Mrs. Sarah Brown, daughter of a Mr. Dewey. One son, John H., was the result of this union. Both these last companions, as well as the first, died and were buried in this county. A short time after the death of the third wife, Mr. Cleveland came to Mason county, Ills, where he arrived about 1857. He is still living, now about 78 years old. After coming to Mason county, he married his present and fourth wife, Mrs. Susan Griffin, and relict of Mr. Wm. R. Griffin. Five of the seven children are yet living: Eli and John, of Mason county; George and Sophia, of Michigan, and Mary, of California.

Eli preceded his father to Mason county some two years and has ever since been one of its honorable and energetic citizens. He and his brother John, a former sheriff of the county, have been in partnership in farming and the stock trade ever since they first came into the county. They have been successful in business, and have risen from poor boys to opulent citizens, and are now extensively engaged in the cattle trade. Mr. Cleveland has served eight years in Crane Creek township as Justice of the Peace, his last term expiring the present year. During his entire term of office he never had a judgment reversed in the Superior Courts.

He was married April 14th, 1852, to Miss Mary Mefford, daughter of Col. John Mefford, by his wife, formerly Miss Abigail Young. The Colonel was a veteran of the war of 1812. By this wife he has had born two daughters, Miss Abbey May and Miss Mattie Blanche. The latter, a beautiful and promising child of some seven summers, is the only surviving heir. The other died when about four years old.

The Cleveland family is of Welch extraction. Benjamin Cleveland, the grandfather of Mr. C., was a revolutionary patriot and soldier. He settled, after the close of the war, in the State of New York, and emigrated with his son Brainard to Ohio, where he died in a good old age. He raised the following children: Aaron, Brainard, Benjamin, George, Charles, Miss Lydia, Mrs. Mallah Smith, Miss Sophronia, and Mrs. Anna Keep. Aaron, Charles, Sophronia and Anna reside in the East. Benjamin in Michigan, and George in Ohio.



Maintained by Mason County Coordinator Donna Mayer