Peter C. Cleland Biography


	This biography appears on pages 1255-1256 in "History of South 
	Dakota" by Doane Robinson, Vol. II (1904) and was scanned, 
	OCRed and edited by Maurice Krueger, mkrueger@iw.net.

	This file may be freely copied by individuals and non-profit 
	organizations for their private use. 

	Any other use, including publication, storage in a retrieval 
	system, or transmission by electronic, mechanical, or other 
	means requires the written approval of the file's author.


	PETER C. CLELAND was born on a farm near Whitewater Jefferson 
county, Wisconsin, on the 30th of November, 1847, being a son of James 
and Mary (Wilson) Cleland, both of whom were born and reared in 
Scotland, where their marriage was solemnized on the 21st of April, 
1837. About three years later they emigrated to America and located in 
Jefferson county, Wisconsin, on the farm near Whitewater, where they 
passed the residue of their earnest and useful lives, the father of the 
subject being summoned to that "undiscovered country from whose bourne 
no traveler returns," on the 16th of October, 1888, while his devoted 
and loved wife entered into eternal rest December 10, 1893, each being 
seventy-six years of age at the time of death. 

	Peter C. Cleland was reared on the pioneer homestead and his 
educational advantages in his youth were such as were afforded in the 
district schools. At the age of seventeen years he left school to 
respond to the call of higher duty, enlisting as a private in Company B, 
Third Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry, and joining his regiment at Atlanta, 
Georgia, while he served under Colonel Hawley and accompanied Sherman on 
his memorable march to the sea. Mr. Cleland was present at the surrender 
of General Johnston, at Raleigh, North Carolina, and thence marched with 
his command to the city of Washington, where he participated in the 
Grand Review, there receiving his honorable discharge in June, 1865, 
having served nine months and having proved a loyal and valiant soldier. 
After his return home he attended school during one winter term and 
thereafter continued to assist his father in the work of the home farm 
until he had attained his legal majority, when, on February 22, 1869, he 
started for the territory of Dakota, making Clay county his destination 
and here taking up a homestead claim in Spirit Mound township, where he 
began to make improvements and place the farm under cultivation. In the 
spring of 1875 Mr. Cleland left the farm and started for the Black 
Hills, but when about half the distance had been traversed his goods 
were burned by the government, which means was taken to stop immigration 
to that section, and our subject then returned to his farm. Two years 
later, however, he again set forth for the forbidden country, which he 
reached in due time, remaining in the Black Hills about six months and 
devoting his attention to prospecting and mining for gold. He then 
returned to his home and has ever since been actively engaged in 
farming, now having a well-improved place of one hundred and sixty 
acres, and receiving excellent returns for the labors expended in 
tilling the willing soil. Mr. Cleland has been identified with the 
Populist party from the time of its organization, and has attended every 
state convention of his party in South Dakota. He and his wife are 
valued members of the Methodist Episcopal church at Bloomingdale, and 
Mr. Cleland is a member of the Grand Army of the Republic, Miner Post, 
No. 8, at Vermillion. 

	On Sunday, March 12, 1876, was solemnized the marriage of Mr. 
Cleland and Miss Nellie Kimball, the ceremony being performed in the 
home of the bride's parents, in Spirit Mound township. She was born in 
Kane county, Illinois, on the 10th of April, 1855, being a daughter of 
Jonathan and Hannah Kimball, who came from Illinois to Clay county in 
1868, being numbered among the early settlers in Spirit Mound township, 
where they passed the remainder of their lives, the death of the father 
occurring January 23, 1893, while his wife passed away August 6, 1895. 
Mr. Kimball was one of the prominent and influential citizens of this 
section, and was a member of the committee which framed the first state 
constitution and also that which framed the present constitution. Mr. 
and Mrs. Cleland became the parents of three children, namely: Annie 
Belle, who was born June 20, 1878; Blanche Lenore, who was born April 
21, 1882, and died February 14, 1888; and Philip J., who was born 
December 31, 1885. The family is prominent in the social life of the 
community and the pleasant home is a center of cordial hospitality.