Edward M. Cleveland

Edward M. Cleveland was born in Fluvanna County, Virginia, July 19, 1845. Both his father and grandfather, Jeremiah Cleveland, Sr. and Jr., were natives of Virginia. His mother, nee Sally Wills, was born in the same county, and his grandfather, Miles C. Wills, was also a native of the "Old Dominion." The subject of this sketch was the second of a family of nine children, eight of whom are now living, and he was reared and educated in Virginia. When the great civil war commenced Mr. Cleveland was only sixteen years old. In 1863, when the need of the South for soldiers became great, at the age of eighteen, he enlisted in the Fluvanna Artillery, under Captain Massey, in Colonel Nelson's battalion. He was in many skirmishes and in the battles of Kelley's Ford and Winchester. In the latter a twelve-pound cannon ball wounded him the the back part of the leg, near the knee, carrying away a portion of the flesh and injuring the cords. He was crippled and in Harrisonburg prison hospital twelve days; was considered unfit for service and was permitted to return home.

    After his recovery he worked on his father's farm, and later rented 400 acres of grandfather Willis, which he farmed for five years. He was next employed as a clerk in a general merchandise store with his uncle, A. S. Burgess, of Central Plains, and the following year he came to California. He purchased twenty-five acres of choice land in Santa Paula, which he has improved and where he has made a very pleasant home.

    In 1879 Mr. Cleveland was married to Miss M. J. Fowler. She was born in Indiana in 1855, and is the daughter of Mr. Welcome Fowler, of Indiana. Mrs. Cleveland is a member of the Christian Church. Mr. Cleveland is a member of the I. O. O. F., and in politics affiliates with the Democratic party. 

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