WI BIO - Dane Co - CLEVELAND, Benjamin
Biographical Review of Dane County, WI. Chicago: Biographical Review Pub. Co. 
1893. Vol II, pp 533-534

Benjamin CLEVELAND, a successful farmer, of Dane County, WI, was born in 
Crawford County, PA, 12 Dec 1836, a son of Joseph and Deborah (HARNED) 
CLEVELAND. Joseph CLEVELAND was born in NY, 23 Feb 1806, a son of Benjamin 
and Lydia CLEVELAND, natives of RI; they moved to NY in an early day, resided 
in Crawford County, PA, a few years, later moved to OH, thence to MI, and 
next to IL. Benjamin CLEVELAND died in IL at a very old age, and Lydia 
CLEVELAND afterward went to IA, where she died at the home of her son, 
LaFayette.

The CLEVELAND family came originally from England, and were farmers by 
occupation. Joseph CLEVELAND, father of our subject, moved with his parents 
to PA, in 1838 to MI, where he worked by the day and month several years, and 
during his residence in MI also cleared 800 acres of land. In Sep 1847 
Joseph CLEVELAND purchased 80 acres of land in Middleton Township, Dane 
County, WI, and in 1850 traded that place for 160 acres, where our subject 
now lives, and still later bought 120 acres more. This farm contained only a 
small log house, where the family lived about 12 years. Joseph CLEVELAND 
died there 28 Aug 1854, leaving a wife and 10 children, nine now living. The 
mother of our subject, Deborah (HARNED) CLEVELAND, was born in Crawford 
County, PA, in 1811, in which county her parents lived and died. Mrs. 
Deborah (HARNED) CLEVELAND died at the home of her daughter, Mrs. J. P. LEES, 
in Barron County, WI, 21 Feb 1891. One son of Joseph and Deborah (HARNED) 
CLEVELAND, Charles D., was a member of the 8th WI Regiment, Company G, and 
died of fever during the Civil War.

Benjamin CLEVELAND, the subject of this sketch, remained at home with his 
mother for three years after his father's death, and then farmed on rented 
land two years. He next purchased a part of his mother's old home, erected 
an addition to her residence, and the latter than made her home with him for 
13 years. Benjamin CLEVELAND then bought out the eight heirs, erected a good 
residence in 1884, and is now building one of the finest barns in the county. 
In his political views he affiliates with the Republican party, and his 
first presidential vote was cast for A. LINCOLN.

Benjamin CLEVELAND was married 26 Dec 1858 to Miss Matilda SHOWER, who was 
born in Mercer County, PA, 10 Nov 1837, a daughter of Daniel and Hannah 
SHOWER. Daniel SHOWER was born in Union County, PA, 11 Jun 1813, a son of 
John and Madaline SHOWER, natives of the same county. John and Madaline 
SHOWER removed to Mercer County, PA, late in life, where they died at a very 
old age. Daniel, one of 12 children, came to WI in about 1846, settling in 
Cross Plains Township, Dane County, where he still resides on the first farm 
on which he located. Daniel SHOWER was married in 1836 to Hannah BOWERSOCHS, 
a native of the same county [Union County, PA], and a daughter of Jacob and 
Madaline BOWERSOCHS, who lived and died in Union County, PA. Daniel and 
Hannah (BOWERSOCHS) SHOWER now own over 200 acres of fine land, all of which 
was made from a vast [p 534] wilderness; they had 10 children: Esther L., 
married and has four children; Daniel E., married and has two children; 
William F., has one child; Charles M., at home; Frances B., married, and has 
one child; Alameda M., Benjamin E., Joseph R., and Ulysses O., at home. The 
children are all well educated.

Submitted by Cathy Kubly