Thomas County cat. [volume] (Colby, Kan.) 1885-1891, 1885-12-10
CLEVELAND CLOCKS.
Some Ancient TimCpieccs Made by the
President S Ancestors.


Presidents Ancestors.
Some years ago Edward Scott, 6
jeweler of this village, commenced {
collection of ancient clocks, common.
ly called ''wall sweeps" which are
now valuable as relics. Then it was
nothing unusual to attend the sale OF
some family about to move away and
buy an old clock for silver quarter.
Often, indeed, they were given away
to the boys, and were used as clumsy
playthings. Scott found several old
timepieces with the name of "Jere-
miah Cleveland, maker" inside the
wooden cases.
The Cleveland family has been
known in Clermont County for years,
and not much was thought of this un-
til the elevation of Grover Cleveland
to the Presidency. A brushing up of
family recollections disclosed the fact
that Jeremiah Cleveland was an uncle
of the President, and, more, that the
works of his ancient clocks had most
ly been made by Rev. Aaron Cleve-
land, the Presidents father, who had
learned clock-making in his youth to
renounce it for the ministry. This
clock discovery led to more investiga-
ton of the Cleveland family, and a
closer hunt among clocks for more OF
the Cleveland make. Two brothers of
the Presidents father, Jeremiah and
Stephen, came to this country in the
early part of the century. For the lat
ter the President was originally
named. He was for years in this coun-
try, but went to Cincinnati. where he
kept drug store for 4 long time.
Jerry Cleveland married Lizzie Rob-
inson and settled in Lucy's Run. near
Batavia. Here he had shop, which
is still standing a ruin, never in use
since his death in 1887. He was in
those early days compelled to take for
payment wheat, heifers, calves, oats.
cordwood or DAYS labor, and history
does not record that he left much fort
une to his family. One son, Aaron B.
Cleveland, named for the Presidents
father, is now United States Revenue
Gauger, appointed by the grace of his
cousin. Among the clocks collected
which bear the mark of manufacture
or repair by Aaron or Jerry Cleveland
is one lately bought by Governor
Knott, of Kentucky, and which is I'M
derstood to be forthcoming present
to the President. james b. Milford,
has another clock repaired by old Jer-
nv Cleveland, which was brought from
Epping. n. H. 1t had been in the
Norris family one hundred and fifty
six years, and in the French and In
dian war two babies were hid in its
case during the Indian attack on the
cabin. Another case made by Cleve
land for the Trout family is still in
good condition. The works were made
in 1892 For sixty-three years this
clock has been in the Trout family,
near Feesburg. Brown County. Thorn
as L. Hamer, the celebrated Congress
man and Mexican soldier. who APP
pointed General Grant to West Point,
sat under the face of this clock and
sued in vain for the hand of pretty
Mary Trout, who refused him to wed
farmer boy. In one of the families re-
lated to General Grant and living IL
the southern part of the county is a
clock, the case of which was made by
Cleveland in 1920, and which was tick.
inc the hour of General Grants birth
in the Point Pleasant cottage.-Batacid
CO., Cor. Chicago Times.