GENERAL JOHN S. CASEMENT,
familiarly known as General Jack, was born in Geneva, New
York, Jan. 19, 1829. His parents, natives of the Isle of Man,
moved in 1844 to Michigan, where John went to Cleveland, where he
acquired a reputation as a railroad contractor. On October 14,
1861, he married Frances M. Jennings, youngest daughter of C.
C. Jennings, Painesville Congressman.
In May, 1861, he enlisted in the Union Army and was
appointed major of the Seventh Ohio Volunteer Infantry. His
experience in handling men won for him the respect and admiration of his
superiors. In his first engagement, a Union defeat, he saved 400
men of complete annihilation. In August, 1862, he was promoted to
a colonelcy. He accompanied Sherman in his march to the
sea, and was discharged in 1865 with the rank of brigadier general.
General Jack served one term in the Ohio senate
and two years in Congress. In private life, Casement became
a railroad builder. Until the year 1885, it is said that he laid
more track than any other railroad contractor in the world. He put
down the original rails of the Lake Shore Railroad from Cleveland to
Erie, the Big Four from Cleveland to Columbus, the Nickle Plate from
Cleveland to Buffalo, and the entire Union Pacific. He even spent
three years building a railroad system in the wilds of Costa Rica.
He died December 13, 1909, at the age of 81.
(Source: Lake County, Ohio History - pg. 88) |
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E. R. CLEVELAND, a
prominent and wealthy farmer and a highly respected citizen of Madison
township, Lake county, Ohio, was born in Washington county, New York,
Oct. 17, 1829, a son of Daniel R. Cleveland, a native of Rhode
Island.
The Clevelands are of English descent and can
trace their ancestry back a number of generations. Benjamin
Cleveland, a grand-father of our subject, was born in Exeter, Rhode
Island, in 1744, son of Deliverance Cleveland, who was born in
North Kingston, Rhode Island, in 1720. Deliverance Cleveland
was a son of Edward Cleveland, who was born in Woburn,
Massachusetts, May 20, 1663, son of Moses Cleveland, the first of
the family who came to America, the date of his arrival here from
England being 1635. Moses Cleveland was married to Ann
Weim, who came to America from England with her father, Edward
Weim, in 1834.
While some of the Clevelands have been
professional men and others engaged in business lines, most of them have
been farmers.
Daniel R. Cleveland went from Rhode Island
to New York State at an early day, and was there engaged in farming,
being the owner of 300 acres of land, in later life he disposed of his
farming interests and turned his attention to the railroad business.
While helping to construct a line of railroad at Macon, Georgia, he died
at that place, in 1836, at the age of fifty-two years. He was
twice married, and had three children by his first wife, two sons and a
daughter; and two by the second, E. R. being the only one now
living. The second wife, nee Ester Monroe, was the
mother of E. R. She died at the age of forty-seven years.
Both parents were members of the Presbyterian Church, and the father was
in politics a Whig.
E. R. Cleveland went with his parents from
Washington county to Chautauqua county, New York, when he was eight
years old, and when he was twelve came with his mother to Ohio and
settled in Harpersfield township, Ashtabula county. He received
his education in the district schools. After the death of his
mother he lived with an elder brother until he was twenty-two years old.
After his marriage in 1851 he settled in Trumbull township, Ashtabula
county, and a year and a half later moved to Unionville, where he
clerked in a store for several years. In 1857 he went to Steamboat
Rock, Hardin County, Iowa, and for three years conducted a grocery
business at that place. Returning to Ohio, he engaged in the
produce business, buying potatoes, fruits, etc., and shipping to the
large cities. He retired from that occupation in 1870. Then
he operated a cider mill and manufactured jelly, syrups, etc., until
1890, when he turned the business over to his son. In 1882 he
settled on his present farm of 120 acres, all improved and devoted to
general farming and stock-raising. He has given considerable
attention to the raising of fine shorthorn cattle, and also raises a
large number of hogs. His bank barn, the largest one in the
township, he built in 1891, after his own plan. This barn is 44 x
88 feet, with three additions, one 40 x 60 feet, another 30 x 40 feet,
and the third 24 x 70 feet.
Mr. Cleveland was married, Oct. 16, 1851, to
Miss A. M. Archer, of Macedon, Wayne county, New York, where she
lived until her marriage. They have two children, Arthur B.
and Leila E.
He and his wife are both members of the
Congregational Church, and in politics he affiliates with the Republican
party. Mr. Cleveland started out in life dependent upon his
own resources, and the success he has attained he attributes to hard
work and good management. |
