Ray County, Missouri Biographies - John Cleavenger (b. 1798)

Source: History of Ray County, Missouri 1881; p.692-693

John Cleavenger

John Cleavenger was born in the state of Virginia, July 2, 1798. His father was a native
of New Jersey, and his mother of Shenandoah county, Virginia. His parents removed to Cocke
county, Tennessee, when he was a small boy, and there he grew up, working on his father's
farm until 1819, when he left Tennessee and came to Missouri. Mr. Cleavenger was one of a
party who made the trip by river, in a keel-boat which they constructed themselves in
Tennessee before leaving. When they reached the mouth of Fishing river, while ascending the
Missouri, they steered their boat into the smaller river, and after ascending it about six
miles landed, and settling there, made their homes thenceforth in this county. All kinds of
game was abundant, and their chief occupation at first was hunting, but in a few years they
cleared land, improved farms, and settled down to a quiet life of farming. Mr. Cleavenger
was first married in 1817, to Elizabeth Hensley, of Virginia. The issue of this marriage
was one child: Mary, born September 8, 1819. Mrs. Cleavenger soon after died, and he was
again married in 1823, to Miss Margaret Wills, daughter of James Wills, an early settler of
Ray county. She was born in Rutherford county, Tennessee, January 1, 1801. They became the
parents of eleven children, four of whom are now living: Lily A., born, February __, 1828;
Sarah, born March 5, 1831; Margaret, born June 21, 1833; Richard, born October 28, 1936.
From 1830 to 1832, Mr. Cleavenger was sheriff of Ray county, and in 1856, was elected to
represent the county in the general assembly. The duties of his office he discharged with
credit to himself and to the satisfaction of the people. He has been a member of the Old 
School Baptist Church for more than 60 years. His wife is a Presbyterian. He is one of the
oldest and most highly respected citizens of Ray county.


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