William J. CLEVELAND 1822-1904
Born in Pendelton District, South Carolina, December 21, 1822.
When but a child, his parents, William and Isabella Morris Cleveland, moved to Georgia, where they resided about ten years. The 1830 Federal Census shows a Wm Cleveland as head of household in Rabun, Georgia, with a family of 5 sons and one daughter.
The family then moved to Alabama (brother Martin Van Cleveland was born in Alabama in 1833) and on to Missouri, where they resided on a farm until at least 1850.
William Jasper CLEVELAND married in 1847, Miss Tennessee OWEN, a native of Tennessee.
Their first son, George, was born in September 1847 in Arkansas OR McDonald County, Missouri. (Early census shows AR, but later census state MO).
William J. Cleveland, leaving his parents, wife and son, in 1849 travelled to California across the plains with ox-teams. After spending one year mining in Butte county, he returned (via Nicaragua) to Missouri, where he remained until 1852.
The 1850 Federal Census shows a Jasper CLEAVLAND, age 26, in McDonald Co., MO with wife Tennessee and son George, age 2. The immediate neighbor in the census was William and Susan Owens, with 7 children age 5 to 24, all but the last born in Tennessee; so this might be Tennessee's family.
In 1852, his daughter Missouri Ann was born in McDonald Co., MO.
He once more crossed the plains, bringing his family, consisting of wife and two children. He arrived in Butte county in September, 1852, where he followed farming one year.
After his wife died in December, 1853, Jasper returned with his two children to Missouri (via Nicaragua), where he followed farming for three years.
He married in March, 1854, Miss Sarah A. OWEN, a native of Tennessee, and cousin of his first wife Tennessee OWEN.
In 1855, his son Napolean Bonaparte was born in Missouri. During 1855, Jasper Cleveland was involved in a business dispute that ended in the Missouri Supreme Court finding in his favor. Jasper had refused to pay a James McCauley any profits from sale of a blacksmith shop, and no evidence was found of a partnership.
Then, in 1856, William Jasper Cleveland once more crossed the plains to California, bringing his own and his father’s family with him.
Son Robert Lee was born in 1857 in California, when his family was living on the Feather River. {4}
After spending one year in Butte county, William Jasper came to Mendocino county with his children, leaving his father in Butte county.
On arriving in Mendocino county, William Jasper Cleveland located upon a farm near Ukiah, where he followed farming until 1863.
In January 1858, his wife Sarah A. OWEN CLEVELAND died in Ukiah, Mendocino Co., CA.
Later that year, 3 October 1958, William Jasper married his third wife, Elizabeth PARTON (This was also Elizabeth's third marriage, having been first married to a Mr. CARD and second to Mr. WRIGHT).
William Jasper is listed in the 1860 census as a blacksmith and farmer. Other household members include Elizabeth, age 38, born in MO; Miranda, age 13, born in MO; George, age 12, born in AR; Missouri, age 8, born in MO; Bonaparte, age 5, born in MO; Robert, age 3, born in CA; and John Shultz, age 30, born in Germany. The daughter Miranda was most likely a daughter of wife Elizabeth's previous marriage.
He then bought the Coyote Grist-mill on 9 June 1864, located in Calpella Township, Mendocino Co., at the upper end of Coyote valley, "and after giving to it much-needed repairs, and increasing its capacity, he put it again in operation, and it has continued ever since at work under his management." {2}
In June of 1866, the Coyote Valley Flour-mill was destroyed by fire. William Jasper had the mill rebuilt by October 1866, converting it to run by steam. {2}
The 1870 Federal Census for Calpella, Mendocino County, CA, Post Office Ukiah, lists W.J. Cleveland age 49, Miller, wife Elizabeth age 49, sons Napolean B. age 15 and Robert E. age 13 - both working in the mill, and a William L. Cleveland age 21 also working in the mill.
The 1870 Industry Census for Calpella Township states W. J. Cleveland has a "flouring mill" with $10,000 Capital (real and personal) invested, with one water wheel employing two men.
William Jasper still carried on a general milling business, along with farming, in 1880. The 1880 Federal Census for Calpella Township, Mendocino County, CA lists Jasper Cleaveland age 58, Miller, bp South Carolina; wife Elizabeth age 58, bp Missouri; granddaughter Florence Hildreth age 12, bp California; and two boarders.
The Great Register, Mendocino County, 1892 and 1898 show William Jasper Cleveland as a miller in Coyote Valley, Calpella precinct, Ukiah Post Office. He is listed as 6 ft 2 in tall, with hazel eyes and grey hair.
The 1900 Federal Census for Calpella Township, Mendocino County, CA lists two families living in Dwelling 9: G. Cleveland age 52, occupation Saloonkeeper with wife Laura age 45; and also Wm J. Cleveland age 77, with wife Elizabeth age 77, grandson Marion J. Owens age 30, occupation Miller, nephew Thomas Montgomery age 30, occupation Teamster, and one Boarder with occupation Miller.
William Jasper Cleveland died suddenly of heart failure at home near Ukiah, Mendocino County, CA on Tuesday, December 6, 1904 at the age of 81 years. He was survived by his third wife, Elizabeth, three sons (George, Bonaparte, and Robert Lee), and one daughter - Mrs. M. A. Owen.
Elizabeth died one year later, 1 December 1905, and both are buried in the Ukiah Cemetery.
Sources:
{1} History of Mendocino County 1880 p. 563-564
{2} History of Mendocino County 1880 p. 446
{3} From Mendocino County Library, index cards to newspaper articles on microfiche
{4} From newspaper article "Fine Character Being Mourned" 18 Dec 1929 URP
{5} From Mendocino County Library, index cards to newspaper articles on microfiche; See Real Estate Transactions DWD 12-24-1880 3:5
{6} Dispatch Democrat, December 9, 1904; pg. 5, Col. 4
{7} Mendocino County Records Register of Deaths Bk. A – Ukiah
{8} North America, Family Histories, 1500-2000 for William Jasper Cleveland
{9} Schedule 2 – Productions of Agriculture in Calpella Township in the County of Mendocino, State of California
{10} Schedule 4. Products of Industry in Calpella Township, in the County of Mendocino, State of California, during the year ending June 1, 1870.
{11} Schedule 3. Productions of Agriculture in Chico ?, in the County of Butte, in the State of California, enumerated… on the 9th day of August, 1870