The Portland daily press., 1892-09-06
OBITUARY..
Nathan CIeaves.

Nathan Cleayes.
The Hon. Nathan Cleaves died at his
residence at the Falmouth hotel at
11.30 o'clock yesterday morning.
The news of the fatal illness of Judge
Cleaves came with great shock to our
citizens. Except as far as his most init
mate friends were concerned the Judge
was supposed to be convalescent from a
bilious attack. with which he had been
lately afflicted, and which was similar to
attacks from which he had not unfre-
quently suffered. But on Tuesday last,
when Dr.. Bray called to see the Judge
for although the Judge was considered
convalescent he asked the doctor to come
in and see how he was getting along
the patient exhibited symptoms that
caused the doctor apprehensions that
Judge Cleaves was suffering from acute
Brights disease. He afterwards called
in Drs. Weeks Gerrish and Smith in con-
sultation, but all efforts were useless to
save life.
Judge Nathan Cleaves was born in
Bridgton January 8, 1885, the son of
Thomas and Sophia Bradstreet Cleaves.
He fitted for college at Portland Acad-
envy, and graduated at Bowdoin College
in the class of 1858. Among his class
mates were Gen. J. P. Cilley of Rock
land, Gen. Francis Fessenden of this
city, Judge Lysander Hill of Washing
ton, ex-Mayor E. B. Nealley of Bangor,
ex-Commissioner of Patents Ellis Spear
and Rev. Frank Sewall, at one time pre-
sident of Urbana University. Mr..
Cleaves read law with the firm of
Howard & Strout, of Portland, and was
admitted to the Cumberland bar in
April, 1861. He began practice in Bow
doinham; but removed to Portland in
1862, and went into partnership with
Hon. L. d. M. Sweat, then member of
Congress. In 1854 this partnership ter
minated and he formed new connection
with Judge Howard, which was termin-
ated with the latter's death in 1877. In
1869 Mr.. Cleaves was elected city solic-
itor of Portland and was member of
the Legislature from Portland in 1871
and 1875. From 1876 to 1880 he was
Judge of Probate for Cumberland Coun-
ty. In 1884 Mr.. Cleaves was the Demo-
cratic nominee for Congress in this dis
trict
Judge Cleaves was nominated as JUS
tice of the Supreme Judicial Court in
1880, by Gov. Plaisted, but for political
reasons was not confirmed by the council.
Judge Cleaves was largely interested
in business corporations, being president
of the Bar Harbor Electric Illuminating
Company, the Ellsworth Water Compa-
ny, director in the Cumberland National
bank of Portland, Northern Banking
Company of Portland, First National
bank of Bar Harbor, Westbrook Trust
Company and others.
At the late Democratic State Conven-
ton at Bangor, Judge Cleaves was nom
mated unanimously as delegate at large
to the Democratic National Convention
at Chicago in June last, and was chair
man of the Maine delegation.
During the administration of Mr..
Cleveland, the. death of the late Bion
Bradbury left the office of Surveyor of
the Port vacant; and Mr.. Cleaves was
appointed. He held this Office until
quite recently, when he was succeeded
by Col. Wentworth.
Of late years Mr.. Cleaves has had a
partnership with his brother, Hon. Henry
B. Cleaves, the firm title being N. & 81.
B. Cleaves. To this firm Stephen G. Per-
ry, ESQ.,, was admitted not long ago.
In 1865 Judge Cleaves married Caro-
line, the daughter of Judge Howard.
She died in 1875. W
Judge Cleaves was a man who had the
entire confidence of all who knew him,
prominent among which was the
estate of the late Mayor Mcclellan. He
was an able lawyer and ranked among
the first in his profession in this state.
He was of most genial disposition, and
his kindnesses to young men in the va
rious professions were many. His char
tiles were numerous. He will
prove great loss, not only to his rela-
tives and friends, but to the city which
has been his home. 1t is pleasant to
know that his brother, Hon. Henry B.
Cleaves, who had been his constant COM
panion so many years, was with him at
the last, and he will have the sympathy
of all in his great bereavement. The
other m embers of the family were also
present