Claiborne guardian. [volume] (Homer, La.) 1877-188?, 1879-04-02
DEATH OF COL. seMiAnIM CLEVELAND.
From Columbus GA Times.1

This patriot and good man WA bonn in
Franklin county, Ga, on the 18th of Feb
ruary 1892, Of u family known in that
county rs one Of th. first TO settle it. lie
was one Of a family Of eleven children
eight sous aud three daughters-who are
well known in Georgia and Alabama His
father, John Cleveland, WAS - son of the
Rev. Mr.. John Cleveland, one of the first
settlers of "oid Franklin" when this great
State now, WAS then one Of the original
thirteen colonies, and was Inhabited, for
the most part, by the aborgines of the
land. The father of Col. Ben Cleveland
was poor, lived in newly and sparsely
settled country, and could not educate his
children only in very limited way; Col.
Ben himself only getting the benefit Of
the short tine If ak months at school
during his childhood, notwithstanding
when he went into manhood he had, by
untiring efforts. acquired n good stock Of
information. He was raised on a farm,
and very naturally chose to follow the
/ business of planting during his whole life,
| unless called away ftOn il Ia serve and
defend his country. This occurred fire.
quently during his early man. ood. He
entered military service first in the year
! lsl2 as a Lieutenant in the command Of
| Gen. Floyd. When the time for which he
first enlisted expired he returned to his
native place and raised a new company of
volunteers, who elected him their COM
mander. He enlisted them aud re-enlisted
himself for the continuance Of that cam
paigu. He bore MP bravely under all the
hardsbips consequent to soldiers life.
He endured the hardships and severity Of
forced marches through the swamps and
wildcrnesses from, this State to Louisiana,
where he WAS ordered to join Gen. Jackson
in the great and victorious battle Of New
Orl-as, which terminated that memorable
war, and his services rs n soldier for the
time being, crowned with the gl6ries If
successful BATH, and the love Of his
countrymen for his magnanimty and
valor. In the year l-l6 he was happily
married to Miss Amelia Hooper, with
whom he was blessed for fifty four
years. The offspring of this happy
union was eleven children, five Of whom
are now living. He had ne aspirartnns TO
engage in political life, though he Was
sent by his county IA a delegate to the
! i, I'D var
by Gen. Mcintosh, aud served in that ca
pacity one year When the tronble began
with the hostile Greek Indians, Col. Cleve-
land was among the first to enlist in
defense of his country. lie was elected
Quarter master and served in that cspac-
+ ity, but when the fash If battle broke out
before him his brave spirit would not
| allow him to shield its rage under cofo'
of "a bomh-proof Office" lie would al
WAYS with sword in hand, uplittcd u
honor and defense of those who were nea
and dear TO him, share the hsrdships snt
D dangers Of battle to which his comrades
we're exposed. In the fierce ba.tlr of Pea
! River against the Creeks he assumed com
!, mand Of a company nf soldiers aud volHn
tarily made IA charge against the enemy
which resulted in completely routing
them. For this gallantry Gen, Wilbnrne
4 in whose command he was engaged
awarded him the choice pony Of all th'
, trophies OF the battle. This terminated
the Creek war, and concluded the fate q
the Creek Indians. In lS6 he again en-
listed in the service as captain of cornpa
nv for the purpose of suhjnSating an,
collecting the hostile Cherokee Indians
;, preparatory to moving them West Hi
y eldest son, Mr.. J. NJ. Cleveland, engage
:, with him in this war when he was onl,
u seventeen years of age. With this wa
n closed the active military career of thf
!. brave soldier, who bravely and with de
:, yotion to the cause he espoused served
; with much honor to himself, until tn
oppre ssors Of his country were completed
sahiagstesl and the homes and tiresides O
his couutrym"r were shielded from tn
Indians fire tor, II and scalping knife. o.
g his return to his native comfy the citizen
V were not slow to show their high apprecia
II ton of the true valor Of him and his mer
The old citizens of Franklin remembe
IS him to this day. In lSSs aud 1879 he wa
. member of the State Senate, place
there by an almost unanimous vote of hi
&c constituents When his Senatorial teri
A. expired he returned and engaged IN plant
v ing. In 1870 he moved Ia Tronp county
: Ga, and there by continued industry an
. close economy he accumulated health
fortune. In ISL he settled in Stewsl
r county and lived there twenfy-nine veal
At TO the day of his death. Few men POI
4; scssed a kinder heart and more unassuH
ing manners than did Col Ben Clrvrlan'
He acted always from conscientio'
is conviction Of being right. There new
was more ardent or "A purer patriot. u
hospitality was bonnileSs and accessible
b to all. 1t may he truly and empsailcail
:, said of him that he WAS Il friend to II
distressed. He was the architect OF h