Umatilla County OR Archives Biographies.....Cleaver, Elmer E. April 8, 1861 - 
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File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by:
Carlene Still crstill@oregontrail.net August 3, 2006, 3:24 am

Author: Colonel William Parsons

Page 397

ELMER E. CLEAVER
	Elmer E. Cleaver is one of the firm of Cleaver Brothers, which is 
composed of Clifton and Elmer E. Cleaver, boot and shoe and dry goods 
merchants of the city of Pendleton.  Our subject has demonstrated himself to 
be one of the shrewdest and best business men of this section, having 
displayed a rare talent in financiering and excellent practical judgment in 
the commercial word, where he has achieved a commendable success.
	He is the sone of John W. and Susan C. (Rice) Cleaver, being born in 
Albany, this state, on April 8, 1861.  His father came across the plains with 
ox teams as far back as 1848, settling in Marion county on a donation claim.  
He was a typical pioneer and followed mining in all the known camps on the 
Pacific coast in his day.  He was one of a party of four who were the first 
white men to make the trip from Oregon to California overland, which they did 
in the exciting year of 1849, and were forced to fight the Indians all of the 
way down. He was the first marshal of the town of Albany, this state, and was 
one of the well-known pioneers throughout the state.  Mount Angel College is 
situated on the old donation claim of our subject’s grandfather, and his 
people were among the first settlers of the state.  He was educated in the 
state university at Eugene, enjoying exceptional advantages, which were well 
improved.  After completing his education he engaged with a general 
merchandise establishment in the city of Eugene, where he continued for seven 
years.  At the exception of this time he, in company with his brother Clifton, 
started in a boot and shoe store in Pendleton in the year 1892.  At the 
beginning their stock was very small, but by carefully anticipating the needs 
of the customers and buying with wisdom they were enabled to turn their stock 
rapidy, and although the incipiency of their business was at a time when large 
concerns were going to the wall, still by their shrewd business ability and 
honest treatment of customers they were enabled to make money, and now carry 
the most complete and up-to-date stock of boots and shoes in the county.  In 
addition to this they are operating a fine dry goods establishment in the I. 
O. O. F. building in Pendleton, known as the Cleaver Dry Goods Company, which 
carries a stock of twenty thousand dollars.  They also own an interest in the 
town site of Prairie City, Grant county, Oregon, and extensive interest in 
mining propositions in the famous John Day district.  They are energetic and 
progressive business men and have always taken a commendable interest in the 
affairs of the city and the county.  Elmer E. is a member of the Masonic 
fraternity in Pendleton and also of the Independent Order of Foresters, in 
Albany, Oregon.
	The marriage of Elmer E. Cleaver and Miss Hattie B., daughter of D. J. 
and Mary E. Ferree, was solemnized in the city of Eugene, this state, on 
October 22, 1890. Mrs. Cleaver’s parents came from Iowa to Oregon in 1868.


Additional Comments:
An Illustrated History of Umatilla County by Colonel William Parsons and of 
Morrow County by W. S. Shiach with a brief outline of the early history of the 
State of Oregon.  W. H. Lever, Publisher  1902.




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