History of Steuben County, Indiana, 1885 pages 706-7, George David Cleveland

George D. Cleveland is the only living son of David Cleveland, one of the pioneers of Jackson Township. David Cleveland was born in New York State, June 1, 1816. In 1835, with his elder brother, Amasa Maro Cleveland, he came to Steuben County, Ind, He lived with his brother till his marriage, and then lived on Pretty Prairie, Lagrange County, for a time. Then located on land he purchased when he first came to the county, on section 22, Jackson Township, where he lived till his death, Aug. 23, 1849. He was married in November, 1837, to Eliza Littlefield, a native of New York, born Feb. 9, 1812, daughter of Edmond and Amy Littlefield, who were among the earliest settlers of that section. . Mrs. Cleveland is now living at Sturgis, Mich. Her children were five in number, only two of whom are living — George D. and Emily, wife of Newton Clark, of Nebraska. George D. Cleveland enlisted in August, 1861, in the Twenty-ninth Indiana Infantry, and served three years and nine months, seventeen months of which he was confined in rebel prisons. He participated in the battles of Shiloh, Corinth, Stone River and Chickamauga. He with seventeen others of his company was taken prisoner at the latter battle and taken to Richmond, and confined in Castle Pemberton about two months. Thence to Danville, and April, 1864, to Andersonvillc, where they remained five and a half months, and were then taken to Charleston, S. C., and thence to Florence, and paroled from there March 1, 1865, and sent to Wilmington, N. C. His long experience in rebel prisons so shattered his constitution that he has never recovered from its effects. Mr. Cleveland married Nancy Kirkland, daughter of James Kirkland, who came to Steuben County from Richland County, Ohio, in 1864, and died in February, 1876, He was married four times. His second wife was a sister of Dr, McConnell, of Angola. Mr. and Mrs. Cleveland have five children -Zula M., John M., Iona M., Andrew C. and Ina D. They lost one daughter-Kittie M. Mr. Cleveland is by trade a blacksmith, and is now engaged in that occupation in Flint. He is serving his first term or fourth year as Assessor of Jackson Township. An elder brother of Mr. Cleveland, Osmer W., was a member of the Fifth Indiana Cavalry, and was captured at Macon, Ga., and was, taken to Andersonvil1e Prison and thence to Florence, S. C. There he escaped but was again captured after three or four days and was confined at Florence till paroled, March 1, 1865. Was then trans­ferred to the general Hospital in New York City. His sufferings while a prisoner were intense, and his feet were so bruised and I lacerated in endeavoring to escape from Florence that after his exchange it was found to be necessary to amputate all his toes. He came home in August, 1865, and died of consumption, induced by his exposure and sufferings, Jan. 31, 1866, aged twenty-seven years.

 
Transcribed by R.G. Cleaveland 7/25/2004

 Special Note: The above statements “He was married four times. His second wife was a sister of Dr, McConnell, of Angola.” are in error; he was only married once, to Nancy.  This is born out by research and the emphatic personal statement of Willis Roberts, his grandson.