Multnomah County OR Archives Biographies.....Cleland, John Bryson July 15, 1848 - ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/or/orfiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Ila L. Wakley iwakley@msn.com June 10, 2009, 9:34 pm Author: The S. J. Clarke Publishing Company JOHN BRYSON CLELAND was born July 15, 1848, on a preemption claim in Center township near Janesville, Rock county, Wisconsin, and his parents were James and Isabella (Bryson) Cleland, the latter a native of Ireland. His father, of Scotch-Irish descent, was born in Orange county, New York, and in 1846 migrated to Wisconsin, where the mother joined him a year later. He settled on a tract of government land and through years of patient, arduous toil, succeeded in developing a fine farm and accumulating a comfortable property. He spent the remainder of his life in the Badger state, in which Mrs. Cleland also passed away. John Bryson Cleland, attended the district school of the neighborhood, public and private schools in Janesville, and Carroll College at Waukesha, Wisconsin. He read law in the office of Cassoday & Merrill, well known attorneys at Janesville, Wisconsin, and attended the law department of the University of Michigan, receiving the LL. B. degree in March, 1871. He returned to Wisconsin, practicing for a short time in that state, but in the same year located in Osage, Iowa, where he resided for seventeen years, and in 1888 went to the Territory of Dakota. For two years he engaged in practice at Fargo, and since the spring of 1890 made his home in Portland. His legal career covers a span of more than fifty-six years and during that period he has been intrusted with much important litigation, winning a large percentage of his cases. He has been active in the communities where he has lived. At Osage, Iowa, he was a member of the school board and justice of the peace; and in the twelfth judicial district of Iowa (eight counties) he was twice elected district attorney, once circuit judge and once district judge, a service of about twelve years. He resigned from the bench in Iowa to resume practice at Fargo, Dakota. In 1898 he was appointed circuit judge of the fourth judicial district of Oregon and was twice reelected, serving for thirteen years, the wisdom and fairness of his decisions being uniformly conceded. Judge Cleland was married February 23, 1874, to Miss Ellen Josephine Cory, a daughter of Jonathan Cory, one of the prominent men of Rock county, Wisconsin, and they became the parents of four children: Laura Josephine, a teacher in the public schools of Portland; Bessie Isabella, the wife of John C. Baird of Portland; Earl James, who died December 12, 1926; and Mattie Ellen, at home. In politics Judge Cleland is a stanch republican and has been zealous and active in party affairs. In 1896 he took prominent part in the presidential campaign and was largely instrumental in securing the vote of Oregon for McKinley and against free silver. In early life he became a member of Osage Lodge, No. 102, A. F. & A. M., of Osage, Iowa, and in 1874 was chosen worshipful master of that lodge. In Oregon he is and has been an active and influential member of the fraternity and was grand master of Masons of Oregon in 1898. At Osage, Iowa, he was eminent commander of Coeur De Leon Commandery, No. 19, Knights Templar, for six years, was eminent commander of Oregon Commandery, No. 1, Knights Templar, Portland, Oregon, and grand commander of the Grand Commandery, of Oregon in 1898. He belongs to the Scottish Rite bodies and holds the thirty-third degree therein, an honor conferred upon him in recognition of his services to the organization. Judge Cleland is an ex- president of the State Bar Association and is an ornament to his profession. Throughout life he has been a tireless worker and the exercise of effort has kept him alert. Although seventy-nine years of age, he appears much younger, being exceptionally well preserved, and enjoys the tranquillity of mind and contentment of spirit which result from the knowledge of tasks well done. Judge Cleland has been loyal to every trust reposed in him and faithful to every duty, and his reward is the unqualified respect and confidence of his fellowmen. Additional Comments: History of the Columbia River Valley From The Dalles to the Sea, Vol. II, Pages 830-833 Photo: http://www.usgwarchives.net/or/multnomah/photos/bios/cleland752gbs.jpg File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/or/multnomah/bios/cleland752gbs.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.org/orfiles/ File size: 4.8 Kb