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Below is a family biography included in The History of Posey County, Indiana by John C. Leffel and published by Standard Publishing Company in 1913.  These biographies are valuable for genealogy research in discovering missing ancestors or filling in the details of a family tree. Family biographies often include far more information than can be found in a census record or obituary.  Details will vary with each biography but will often include the date and place of birth, parent names including mothers' maiden name, name of wife including maiden name, her parents' names, name of children (including spouses if married), former places of residence, occupation details, military service, church and social organization affiliations, and more.  There are often ancestry details included that cannot be found in any other type of genealogical record.

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Lewis W. Cleveland, farmer and justice of the peace of Smith township, Posey county, Indiana, was born in Gibson county, same State, June 16, 1842, son of Charles and Phoebe (Lundford) Cleveland. Charles Cleveland was born May 10, 1800, in Harrison county, Kentucky, and his wife was born in September, 1806, a native of Virginia. The father of Charles Cleveland was Micajah Cleveland, who was born in Virginia and served with his two sons in the War of 1812. In 1834 Charles Cleveland came from near Cynthiana, Ky., and with his wife and five children settled in Gibson county, Indiana, then a wilderness with plenty of game roaming the woods. He and his wife, whom he married in Harrison county, Kentucky, became the parents of thirteen children, ten of whom lived to be men and women. Lewis W. Cleveland was the tenth child in the family. He was reared in Gibson county, where he attended common schools in a rude log building (for full description see sketch of Thomas Marvel in this book). After leaving school he taught for one year and then farmed on the home place, where he was born. He was married May 25, 1862, to Elizabeth Meadows, daughter of George H. and Matilda (Allen) Meadows, after his marriage continued for five years to live on the home farm with his parents, removing from there to Posey county in 1869. For one year he farmed in Robb township, after which he traded his farm for a grocery business in Cynthiana. He closed out this business in 1874, since which he has farmed. In 1884. he was elected justice of the peace of Smith township and has held the office continuously ever since. He and his wife had nine children: Arthur M., George W., Lucian N. (deceased), Laura E., Mandaily, Effie G. (deceased), Dexter Lee, in St. Louis, Mo., Grover and Guy. Laura E. married Newton Finley and they live in Cynthiana. Mandaily married Ed Harper and they now live near Mt. Carmel, Ill. Mr. Cleveland has been a member of the Regular Baptist church for fifty years. He is a Democrat and his first vote was cast for Stephen A. Douglas for President.

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This family biography is one of 232 biographies included in The History of Posey County, Indiana by John C. Leffel and published in 1913 by Standard Publishing Company.  For the complete description, click here: Posey County, Indiana History and Genealogy

View additional Posey County, Indiana family biographies here: Posey County, Indiana Biographies

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