Biography of J. C. Clevland, White County, Arkansas

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Submitted by: Bonnie Palmer <bpalmer@bihs.net>
        Date: Jun 1997
Copyright.  All rights reserved.
http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm
http://www.usgwarchives.net/ar/white/white.html
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From "A Centennial History of Arkansas", edited by Dallas T. Herndon, the Director of the Dept.
of Archives & History, published by The S. J. Clarke Publishing Co., Chicago-Little Rock, 1922.

J. C. CLEVLAND, M. D.

Dr. J. C. CLEVELAND, a physician and surgeon for more than a third of a century, practices at Bald
Knob. where his capability has again been demonstrated in his successful handling of important and
involved medical cases. Dr. CLEVELAND is a native son of Arkansas, his birth having occurred in
Independence county, November 19,1852, his parents being Joseph and Elizabeth (BUTCHER) CLEVELAND, a
native of Georgia and Alabama, respectively, their marriage being celebrated in Tuscaloosa, Alabama.
The father was a son of Joseph CLEVELAND, a native of Georgia, who served with the rank of colonel
in the Seminole war. In days of peace he engaged extensively in farming in Georgia, where he owned
many slaves, and he also carried on merchandising there. Sustaining many losses on acct. of the
ravages of war, he removed to Texas & there died ere the war had been brought to a termination. The
maternal grandfather of Dr. Cleveland was T. J. Butcher, a native of Alabama, who carried on farming
on a large scale. He removed to Hempstead Co., Ark., after his son-in-law removed with his family to
this state & his death there occurred.

It was in the year 1851 that Joseph Cleveland came with his family to Ark., settling in Independence
Co., having made the journey across the country with horse team & wagon. He purchased a preemption
near Oil Trough & had to clear most of the land. For 3 years he served in the Confederate army & was
captured while participating in the General Price raid in Missouri. He was sent to Fort Monroe,
where he was incarcerated for 10 months, and then being paroled, returned home, walking from
Chattanooga, Tenn., and crossing the Mississippi river on a raft, which he & his companions made. He
had 3 brothers who were in the battle of Shiloh. Joseph Cleveland had his gun shot out of his hand,
and his trousers were on one occasion pierced by bullets, but he escaped injury. With his return
home he resumed farming and he also took an active interest in public affairs, serving as a member
of the state legislature during the time of the Brooks-Baxter war. He was in the legislature during
the extra session called by Governor Brooks & in various ways aided in shaping the destiny of the
state during that momentous period. Returning to Independence Co., he resumed farming & also
operated a mill & steam cotton gin near Oil Trough. Later he returned & removed to Newport, where he
departed this life in 1867, at the age of 63 years. His widow long survived him, her death occurring
in 1910 at the age of 80 years. In their family were eleven children, 6 of whom are living. Those
who have died are: Thomas J., Mary, John, Frank & Susan. The others are: J.C., H. P., an attorney of
Judsonia; Mary, who is the widow of J. B. Cantrell of Chicago, Ill.; C. E. of Memphis, Tenn.;
Samuel, living in Van Buren, Ark., and Edward L. of N. Little Rock. The parents were consistent
members of the Methodist Episcopal church, South, and Mr. Cleveland was a Royal Arch Mason. His
political endorsement was given to the republican party & he served for many years as justice of the
peace & also filled the position of county commissioner in Independence Co. Dr. Cleveland pursued
his education in the public schools of his native county & also through private instruction at home.
He taught in the rural districts & in the town schools for several years, & afterward began rading
medicine, while for a time he was employed in the drug business. He afterward attended the Kentucky
School of Medicine & later the Louisville Medical College, while later he was graduated from the
Missouri Medical College of St. Louis, winning the M. D. degree in 1888. Previous to this time he
had practiced at Russell, Ark., and following his graduation he went to Newport, Ark., where he
opened an office. In 1888 he came to Bald Knob, where he established an office & has since devoted
his attention to medical & surgical practice. He has taken postgraduate work in the Chicago
Polyclinic, and in 1919 he opened a private sanitorium, which he has since conducted. He devotes
practically all of his attention to his professional interests, which are of an important character,
and his ability is demonstrated in the excellent results which follow his labors in the treatment of
disease. For 32 consecutive years he has been local surgeon & dispenser of medicine for the Missouri
Pacific RR Co. He belongs to the White Co. Medical Society, the Ark. St. & Southern Medical
Societies, & the American Medical Assc. & the Southern RR Medical Assc. He enjoys high respect &
confidence from his colleagues & contemporaries in medical practice & his position has long been a
creditable & enviable one.

Dr. CLEVELAND was married to Miss Eleanor VICK, & they had 3 children, 2 of whom died in infancy.
The surviving daughter, Vina E., is the wife of C. E. PRESTON, a linotype operator on the paper of
Memphis. For his 2nd wife Dr. CLEVELAND was married to Nannie E. GOAD, & they became the parents of
3 children: Estella, the wife of Perdy SPRIGGS of Cairo, Ill.; Hattie May, the wife of Dr. J. B.
CRAWFORD, a practicing physician of Benton, Ark., & one who died in infancy. For his 3rd wife Dr.
CLEVELAND chose Mrs. Dora (WINFIELD) WEBB, and by a former marriage Mrs. Cleveland had a daughter,
Cecile, who is the wife of B. J. PERHAM, a bookkeeper with the Fruit Exchange of Bald Knob.

Dr. CLEVELAND is an exemplary representative of Masonry, haven taken the degrees of the Blue Lodge
at Newport, the chapter & the council at Bald Knob & he has served as high priest of the chapter. He
also belongs to the Woodmen of the World, the Knights of Pythias, is examining physician of the
former & passed through all the chairs of the latter. His political endorsement has always been
given to the republican party, & he stanchly advocates its principles. His entire life has been
passed in Ark. and thus for almost 70 years he has been a witness to the growth, progress, &
development of this state. He served as a member of Baxter body guard during the Brooks-Baxter war,
although but a boy in his teens at the time. Many events which are to others matters of history are
to him matters of personal knowledge & experience, and his reminiscences concerning the early days
in Ark. are most interesting & instructive. All who know D. CLEVELAND, and he has a wide
acquaintance, speak of him in terms of high regard by reason of his splendid professional
attainments &, moreover, by reason of the sterling traits of his character.