White-Independence County ArArchives Biographies.....Cleveland, J. C. ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/ar/arfiles.html ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Robert Sanchez http://www.genrecords.net/emailregistry/vols/00027.html#0006574 July 18, 2009, 12:35 pm Author: S. J. Clarke (Publisher, 1922) J. C. CLEVELAND, 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 and 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, who were natives 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 account of the ravages of war, he removed to Texas and 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 county. Arkansas, after his son-in-law removed with his family to this state and his death there occurred. It was in the year 1851 that Joseph Cleveland came with his family to Arkansas, settling in Independence county, having made the journey across the country with horse team and wagon. He purchased a preemption near Oil Trough and had to clear most of the land. For three years he served in the Confederate army and was captured while participating in the General Price raid in Missouri. He was sent to Port Monroe, where he was incarcerated for ten months, and then being paroled, returned home, walking from Chattanooga. Tennessee, and crossing the Mississippi river on a raft, which he and his companions made. He had three 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 lie 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 and in various ways aided in shaping the destiny of the state during that momentous period. Returning to Independence county, he resumed farming and also operated a mill and steam cotton gin near Oil Trough. Later he retired and removed to Newport, where he departed this life in 1867, at the age of sixty-three years. His widow long survived him. her death occurring in 1910 at the age of eighty years. In their family were eleven children, six of whom are living. Those who have died are: Thomas J.. Mary, John, Frank and Susan. The others are: J. C. H. P.. an attorney of Judsonia: Mary, who is the widow of J. B. Cantrell of Chicago. Illinois: C. E. of Memphis, Tennessee; Samuel, living in Van Buren, Arkansas, and Edward L. of North 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 and he served for many years as justice of the peace and also filled the position of county commissioner in Independence county. Dr. Cleveland pursued his education in the public schools of his native county and also through private instruction at home. He taught in the rural districts and in the town schools for several years, and afterward began reading medicine, while for a time he was employed in the drug business. He afterward attended the Kentucky School of Medicine and 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, Arkansas, and following his graduation he went to Newport, Arkansas, where he opened an office. In 1888 he came to Bald Knob, where he established an office and has since devoted his attention to medical and surgical practice. He has taken postgraduate work in the Chicago Polyclinic, and in 1919 he opened a private sanitarium, 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 oŁ disease. For thirty-two consecutive years he has been local surgeon and dispenser of medicine for the Missouri Pacific Railroad Company. He belongs to the White County Medical Society, the Arkansas State and Southern Medical Societies, the American Medical Association and the Southern Railroad Medical Association. He enjoys the high respect and confidence of his colleagues and contemporaries in medical practice and his position has long been a creditable and enviable one. Dr. Cleveland was married to Miss Eleanor Vick, and they had three children, two 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 second wife Dr. Cleveland chose Nannie E. Goad, and they became parents of three children: Estella, the wife of Perdy Spriggs of Cairo, Illinois; Hattie May, the wife of Dr. J. B. Crawford, a practicing physician of Benton, Arkansas, and one who died in infancy. For his third wife Dr. Cleveland chose Mrs. Dora (Winfield) Webb, and by a former marriage Mrs. Cleveland has a daughter, Cecile, who is the wife of B. J. Perharn, a bookkeeper with the Fruit Exchange of Bald Knob. Dr. Cleveland is an exemplary representative of Masonry, having takeu the degrees of the Blue Lodge at Newport, the chapter and the council at Bald Knob and 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 and passed through all of the chairs of the latter. His political endorsement has always been given to the republican party, and he stanchly advocates its principles. His entire life has been passed in Arkansas and thus for almost seventy years he has been a witness of the growth, progress and development of the 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 and experience, and his reminiscences concerning the early days in Arkansas are most interesting and instructive. All who know Dr. Cleveland, and he has a wide acquaintance, speak of him in terms of high regard by reason of his splendid professional attainments and, moreover, by reason of the sterling traits of his character. Additional Comments: Citation: Centennial History of Arkansas Volume II Chicago-Little Rock: The S. J. 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