William Fiske Cleveland
(1844 - 1916)
Page 2301, # 18748
Hon. WILLIAM FISKE CLEVELAND, the subject of this sketch, was born at Waterville, Oneida County, New York, on the 30th day of Aug., 1844, and is the youngest of 4 children born to Dr. George W. and Almira B. Cleveland.
In 1861, he was graduated from the Waterville seminary, and at once, in accordance with the wishes of his father, entered upon the study of medicine ; but after a few months’ application, from a natural disinclination to the profession, he gave up the work, and entered a retail dry goods store in his native town. Prompted by a natural desire to see more of the world, four years later he removed to Louisville, Ky., and afterwards to Nashville, Tenn., where he was employed in a large hat, cap, and fur establishment. In the spring of 1867, he engaged in business for himself, in the city of New Orleans, Louisiana, and there continued until 1876. On the 2d of October 1871, he was joined in marriage to Miss Kate L. Collins of Galena.
In the autumn of 1877, after having spent a year in the service of the government in Wyoming, he became a resident of Shelby CountY,, Iowa, and in the spring of the following year, established a general mercantile business in the town of Shelby, where he continued to reside until his election to the office of treasurer of his county. To this office he was re-elected in 1887, and in 1889, he was honored with the nomination and election, by the Democratic party, of State Senator from the 18th senatorial district, composed of the counties of Cass and Shelby. During- the four years of his term in the state senate, Mr. Cleveland became the recognized leader of his party, and left his impress upon the legislation of the 23d and 24th General Assemblies (1890-1894).
In 1893, Senator Cleveland intermarried with Mrs. Ella Pratt (nee Noble), a lady of many accomplishments and graces ; to them has been born a daughter, Dorothy, who, no less than her sister, Miss Anna, assists in making the home of Senator Cleveland one of the most hospitable in the city of Harlan.From the days of his boyhood, Mr. Cleveland has been a communicant of the Protestant Episcopal Church, and is at present the Senior Warden of St. Paul’s, in the city of his residence.
Of the Masonic fraternity, the subject of this brief article has been, from his 21st year, an active member and an honored officer. Made a mason by his father when he had barely passed his majority, at Waterville, N. Y., he received the Capitular degrees and passed the cryptic circle in Nashville, and had the orders of Christian Knighthood conferred upon him by the Invisible Friends’ Commandery in New Orleans, La.
Always active in Masonic circles, he became especially so when, after his removal to Harlan, the County seat of Shelby County, Iowa, he was chosen the first Eminent Commander of Mt. Zion Commandery, No. 49, stationed at Harlan, Iowa, and later the Right Eminent Grand Commander of the Grand Commandery of Knights Templars of Iowa, and as such led the Iowa contingent at the Denver Conclave in August, 1892. As an officer, it is but faint praise to say that the Masonic fraternity has never had a more competent one at the head of the lines ; as a citizen, in all of the positions of honor, trust, and confidence which he has been called to fill, he has proved himself to be an able, honest, faithful, and conscientious public servant ; in all the walks of life he has ably and consistently performed the duties incumbent upon him, ever remembering that one’s own interests must not conflict with the rights of others. He is a scholarly and effective speaker, a successful business man, and in his family and social relations a most exemplary man. He has been through his life a brilliant, intelligent, cultivated gentleman, genial and courteous in his manners, pleasant, entertaining, and instructive in his conversation, and devotedly fond of his friends. That he may long be spared is the heart-felt wish of his many social, business, political, religious, and masonic friends.
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