Berkeley County, West Virginia    Biography of Cleveland M. SEIBERT

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Submitted by Valerie Crook, <vfcrook@earthlink.net>, March 2000
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The History of West Virginia, Old and New
Published 1923, The American Historical Society, Inc.,
Chicago and New York, Volume III,
pg. 371


CLEVELAND M. SEIBERT, mayor of Martinsburg, is a
prominent young lawyer of that city, and among other
public services was three times a member of the Legislature.

Mr. Seibert was born on a farm in the Arden District of
Berkeley County, and his forefathers have dwelt in that
region, chiefly as farmers and land owners, for generations,
running back to pioneer days. The original spelling of
the family name was Sybert, and another variation in
spelling it is Siebert. One of the early settlers of Berkeley
County was Wendell Seibert, who came from Pennsylvania.
The old stone house built prior to 1800 is still standing and
occupied by some of his descendants. His son was born in
the same locality, and there also was born George Wendell
Seibert, grandfather of the Martinsburg lawyer. The father,
Wendell Seibert, was born at the old homestead, and suc-
ceeded to its ownership and was a prosperous farmer.
During the Civil war he entered the Confederate army in
Company B. of the First Virginia Cavalry, and from private
was promoted to second corporal. He was with the com-
mand in its many hard fought battles, including the first
battle of Manassas, the seven days fighting around Rich-
mond, Fredericksburg, second Manassas, Antietam, Gettys-
burg, Spottsylvania Court House, and at Chancellorsville
was severely wounded, a bone in his arm being fractured.
The bullet was removed and is now in the possession of his
son Cleveland M. Wendell Seibert died at the old home-
stead in 1884, a few weeks before the birth of his son
Cleveland. The latter's mother was Harriet Kilmer, a na-
tive of Berkeley County and daughter of John Kilmer, who
removed from Pennsylvania to Berkeley County and bought
a farm, where he spent the rest of his life. Harriet Kilmer
Seibert was left a widow with eight children, and carefully
reared and educated them. She died in 1909.

Cleveland M. Seibert grew up on the homestead, attended
district schools, a private military school at Martinsburg
and later entered the law department of West Virginia Uni-
versity, where he graduated when in his twenty-first year.
he was admitted to the bar on attaining his majority, and
has had a widely varied and profitable practice in both
State and Federal courts.

At the age of twenty-five Mr. Seibert married Elizabeth
Trammel, a native of Martinsburg and daughter of Jacob
and Maude (Hollman) Trammel. To their marriage were
born three children, Harriet Ann, Cleveland M., Jr., and
Philip T.

Mr. Seibert is a member of the Berkeley County and West
Virginia State Bar associations, is affiliated with Martins-
burg Lodge No. 378, Benevolent and Protective Order of
Elks, Robert White Lodge No. 67, F. and A. M., a member
of the Knight Templar Commandery, the Scottish Rite Con-
sistory at Wheeling and also Osiris Temple of the Mystic
Shrine at Wheeling. He is a member of Washington Lodge
No. 1, Knights of Pythias, and Tuscarora Tribe No. 50,
Improved Order of Red Men, Mr. Seibert cast his first
presidential vote in 1908 for Mr. Bryan. The same year he
was a successful candidate for the House of Delegates, and
was the youngest member of the House at the following
session. He was re-elected in 1910 and in 1912, and during
his three terms was an active and useful member, both on
the several committees to which he was assigned and on the
floor of the House. In 1920 Mr. Seibert had the distinction
of being unanimously chosen by the city council as mayor
of Martinsburg, the majority of the council being re-
publicans.