Duval-Columbia County FlArchives Biographies.....Cleaveland, William Waldo 1864 - ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/fl/flfiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Joy Fisher http://www.genrecords.net/emailregistry/vols/00001.html#0000031 June 29, 2010, 5:00 pm Source: See below Author: See below William Waldo Cleaveland The Cleaveland (or Cleveland) families in America are said to be all related to each other, and to trace their origin to seven brothers of the name who came from England and settled in different sections of the then new country. However, that may be, it is a fact that many of the name besides the late ex-President, have left the impress of their talents and their personality upon the history of the country, and some have achieved conspicuous distinction. To this ancient and honorable stock belongs the subject of these lines, William Waldo Cleaveland, a well known and much respected citizen of Jacksonville. His father, E. E. Cleaveland, a native of Massachusetts, with his mother, Josephine (Allen) Cleaveland, a Tennesseean by birth, came to Florida in 1860, making Lake City their home for a time, and later removing to Jacksonville, where for many years he was an honored citizen and a successful merchant and manufacturer, chiefly engaged in the furniture business. Mr. Cleaveland was born at Lake City in 1864, and for his early education depended upon the local schools and private teachers, afterwards attending the celebrated Bingham Military School in North Carolina, whence he graduated at the head of his class in 1880, when barely sixteen years of age. His record at that famous institution was exceptional, as he never received a demerit during the entire course. With characteristic energy, he immediately plunged into active business, becoming a partner with his father in the firm of Cleaveland & Son, and devoting his whole attention for several years to the congenial task of building up a great business. That he succeeded splendidly in his purpose is not only well known to all of his fellow citizens of Jacksonville, as well as to thousands throughout the State, who have had dealings with the concern, but the physical evidence of the fact endures in the shape of one of the handsomest stores in Florida. As wealth accumulated, Mr. Cleaveland ventured into other lines, notably that of dealing in and improving real estate, and his success in that direction has been little less than phenomenal. Another interest which has proven a great success was the business of manufacturing the well-known remedy, "Comfort," of which Mr. Cleaveland was the founder. Still another and equally successful, is the manufacture of fibres from the Palmetto plant. He is also an ardent and successful planter, and his Cedar Hill farm and pecan orchard are models of their kind. He is president of the Afco Chemical Company, and of the American Fibre Company, and secretary of the Cleaveland Improvement Company, owning large interests in each, besides being a large owner of real estate as an individual. He has probably built up and improved as much property as any man in the city of Jacksonville. In his domestic and social relations, Mr. Cleaveland has been particularly happy. He married Miss Minnie Beall Lockhart, daughter of Robert Beall and Emma J. (Rankin) Lockhart, of Columbus, Georgia, and five children have been born to them, of whom three are living: Mrs. Hazel B., wife of L. B. Wootton; Mrs. Blanch B., wife of John A. Futch, and Mrs. Louise, wife of James M. Edmondson. He is a zealous Democrat, and a devoted member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, which he served as steward for twelve consecutive years, voluntarily retiring from his stewardship, but remaining as chairman of the board for the next five years, and is now one of the church trustees. Immersed, as he has always been, in business affairs, he has never had time or inclination to seek public office, but when, in a difficult municipal crisis, the people of Jacksonville were trying the experiment of eliminating the negro from control of the city, he was appointed by the Governor as councilman for the seventh ward, under the provisions of the famous "House Bill Number 4" law, and served acceptably on all of the important committees of the council. It is almost needless to say that the experiment was a complete success, and that the phenomenal growth of the city practically dates from that period. Mr. Cleaveland, in his rare moments of relaxation from business cares, enjoys good reading, particularly foreign history. and that of our own country, and takes care to keep abreast of the times by giving due attention to the daily press. His watchword throughout his entire career has been: "Success," and his motto, "Unbounded energy—push! and never take no for an answer." Yet he has ever held to the Golden Rule, and has always been ready to "help the other fellow." He has, within the few years since he became a man, accomplished as much as most men achieve in an entire life-time, and he is practically a young man, with apparently many years of effort and usefulness yet before him. His remarkable career presents a shining and salutary example, well worthy of emulation by the youth of our land. Additional Comments: Extracted from: FLORIDA EDITION MAKERS OF AMERICA AN HISTORICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL WORK BY AN ABLE CORPS OF WRITERS VOL. II. Published under the patronage of The Florida Historical Society, Jacksonville, Florida ADVISORY BOARD: HON. W. D. BLOXHAM COL. FRANK HARRIS HON. R. W. DAVIS SEN. H. H. MCCREARY HON. F. P. FLEMING W. F. STOVALL C. A. CHOATE, SECRETARY 1909 A. B. CALDWELL ATLANTA, GA. Photo: http://www.usgwarchives.net/fl/duval/photos/bios/cleavela132gbs.jpg File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/fl/duval/bios/cleavela132gbs.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.org/flfiles/ File size: 6.1 Kb