W. R. Cleland Biography


	This biography appears on pages 73-74 in "History of Dakota Territory" 
	by George W. Kingsbury, Vol. IV (1915) and was scanned, 
	OCRed and edited by Maurice Krueger, mkrueger@iw.net.

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				W. R. CLELAND.  

	W. R. Cleland, engaged in law practice at Vermillion, was born in 
Clay county in 1882, a son of John M. and Pamelia (Hixson) Cleland. The 
father was a native of Scotland and when but three years of age was 
brought by his parents to the new world, the family home being 
established in Wisconsin The mother, a native of Iowa, was a daughter 
of Nathan and Sophia (Hunter) Hixson and was but thirteen years of age 
when brought by her parents to South Dakota. John M. Cleland spent his 
early days upon the home farm near Whitewater, Wisconsin, and in 1868 
came to Dakota territory, settling in Clay county, where he homesteaded 
and proved up a farm of one hundred and sixty acres, which he continued 
to develop and cultivate until his death in 1898. In the meantime he 
had added to his property at intervals until he was the owner of six 
hundred and forty acres of rich, arable and productive land. On 
attaining his majority he gave his political allegiance to the 
republican party, but afterward became a populist. He held a number of 
county offices and in 1875-1876 represented his district in the 
territorial legislature. His official record was at all times 
creditable to himself and highly satisfactory to his constituents and 
his worth made him one of the valued citizens of his community. His 
widow survives. In their family were nine children, eight of whom are 
yet living: Herbert N., who makes his home on a farm in Clay county; 
Elber L., a jeweler at Parker, South Dakota; Mae Cleland Grange, whose 
husband is a veterinary surgeon of Vermillion; W. R.; Walter L., who is 
living upon a farm in Clay county; Orvilla M., at home; Latilla Cleland 
Lowman, a twin of Orvilla and now a resident of Madison, Nebraska; 
Ethel L, who is one of the primary teachers in the city schools of 
Mobridge, South Dakota; and Mirtle J., who died in 1906.  

	W. R. Cleland acquired his early education in the schools of Clay 
county and afterward attended the University of South Dakota. In fact, 
he completed his entire education in the schools of South Dakota. He 
received the degree of A. B. in 1907 and the degree of LL. B. in 1912, 
from the State University. Mr. Cleland congratulates himself on having 
spent his entire school life in South Dakota, where he has located in 
his chosen profession because he values the friendships gained in his 
college days as one of his greatest assets. He opened a law office in 
Vermillion in 1913 and has since engaged in general practice. In early 
manhood he taught in the country schools for a year and in 1908 he 
became principal of the West Side graded school in Vermillion. The 
money thus acquired enabled him to continue his university course and 
when he had graduated in law he entered upon his chosen life work, in 
which he is meeting with a substantial measure of success. His devotion 
to his clients' interests is proverbial, yet he never for a moment 
forgets that he owes a still higher allegiance to the majesty of the 
law.  

	Mr. Cleland was reared in the Methodist faith, his parents being 
members of that church. He belongs to the Independent Order of Odd 
Fellows and in his political views is a republican. Upon the party 
ticket he has been elected to various local offices. For two terms he 
served as register of deeds of Clay county, entering upon the duties of 
the position in 1909 and remaining as the incumbent for four years. He 
served as secretary of the Clay county republican committee for two 
years, and in 1914 he was appointed to the office of police justice of 
the city of Vermillion, his decisions being strictly fair and 
impartial. His entire life has been spent in South Dakota and among his 
fellow townsmen of Clay county who have been witnesses of his career 
from early boyhood he is held in the highest esteem, a feet which 
indicates that his has been a well spent life.