Born at Waterville, N. Y., August 30, 1844. He was the son of C. W. Cleveland, a practicing physician of that city. W. F., the subject of this sketch, grew to manhood in his native town and graduated from Waterville Academy in 1861. His father intended he should enter the practice of medicine, and had in contemplation the necessary college course. The son, however, lacked a liking for medicine, and became a merchant, instead. His training for a mercantile career was obtained by practical work as a clerk, four years in his home town and two years at Louisville, Ky., and Nashville, TN. He embarked in the clothing business in his own name at New Orleans, in 1867, and continued there until 1876. During the time of his business life there, he was married in 1871, at Dubuque, Iowa, to Miss Kate F. Collins, from Shelby county, Iowa. In the fall of 1885, he was chosen treasurer of Shelby county, and since taking office in January, 1886, had been a resident of Harlan. His wife died in August, 1885. Prior to the close of his term as treasurer, Mr. Cleveland was nominated by his party, the democratic, for state senator for the Cass-Shelby district, and was elected. His opponent was Lafayette Young then publisher of the Atlantic Telegraph, now of the Des Moines Capital. This victory over Young made Cleveland one of the leading democrats of the state for a time. He was often suggested for governor of the state and was twice a candidate for congress from the Ninth Iowa district, but was never successful at the Polls. His career as an office holder closed with his term in the state senate. Mr. Cleveland was one of the prominent Masons of the state, and attained high positions in all the branches of the order.

Born at Waterville, N. Y., August 30, 1844. He was the son of C. W. Cleveland, a practicing physician of that city. W. F., the subject of this sketch, grew to manhood in his native town and graduated from Waterville Academy in 1861. His father intended he should enter the practice of medicine, and had in contemplation the necessary college course. The son, however, lacked a liking for medicine, and became a merchant, instead. His training for a mercantile career was obtained by practical work as a clerk, four years in his home town and two years at Louisville, Ky., and Nashville, TN. He embarked in the clothing business in his own name at New Orleans, in 1867, and continued there until 1876. During the time of his business life there, he was married in 1871, at Dubuque, Iowa, to Miss Kate F. Collins, from Shelby county, Iowa. In the fall of 1885, he was chosen treasurer of Shelby county, and since taking office in January, 1886, had been a resident of Harlan. His wife died in August, 1885. Prior to the close of his term as treasurer, Mr. Cleveland was nominated by his party, the democratic, for state senator for the Cass-Shelby district, and was elected. His opponent was Lafayette Young then publisher of the Atlantic Telegraph, now of the Des Moines Capital. This victory over Young made Cleveland one of the leading democrats of the state for a time. He was often suggested for governor of the state and was twice a candidate for congress from the Ninth Iowa district, but was never successful at the Polls. His career as an office holder closed with his term in the state senate. Mr. Cleveland was one of the prominent Masons of the state, and attained high positions in all the branches of the order.