Cumberland County, Maine – Aaron Cleaves
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Biography
Aaron Cleaves
Biographical Review
Cumberland County, Maine
Boston
Biographical Review Publishing Company
1896
Page 54

Aaron Cleaves, a native and resident of Chebeague Island, was born January 2,
1843, being a son of Aaron, Sr., and Eliza (Hamilton) Cleaves. His grandfather,
Ebenezer Cleaves, who carried on general farming on this island for many years,
here married Miss Jane Cleaves, the descendant of another family; and they
reared a family of ten children, Aaron, Sr., being the fourth son in order of
birth.

Aaron Cleaves, Sr., was born on Cousins Island in 1809. He was a natural
mechanic, and much of his life worked along the coast, engaged in building sea
walls and breakwaters. He assisted in building Brown's Wharf at Portland, and
the Boston & Maine Wharf, formerly called Smith's Wharf, and continued to work
at his trade until his death, June 20, 1876. His wife, Eliza Hamilton, daughter
of James Hamilton, a resident of the island, bore him seven children, of whom
three are now living, namely: Aaron; Mary E., born January 30, 1845, who is the
widow of Lewis W. Sylvester, and has four children ; Nellie E., Herman J., .Fred
L., and Elvie C.; and Isaac H., born April 6, 1851, who, like his brother Aaron,
is a resident of Chebeague Island.

Aaron Cleaves was bred and educated on the island where he was born, and here
started in life for himself a short time after attaining his majority. Buying an
interest in a sloop, Mr. Cleaves transported granite to different places on the
Maine coast. He subsequently engaged in his father's occupation, building sea
walls at Rockland, and the Bar Harbor breakwater, his work in each place being
thorough and durable.

On September 24, 1865, Mr. Cleaves was united in marriage with Caroline L.,
daughter of Stephen Curet, of Chebeague Island. Of their union two children have
been born, George L. and Charles A., the birth of the former having occurred
June 17, 1867, and of the latter, September 24, 1870. George L. has been twice
married. His first wife was Alma A. Garrett, of Vinal Haven, Knox County, Me.,
and his second wife, Annie M., daughter of Isaac Strout, of Chebeague Island.
Charles was married April 19, 1892, to Minnie Brown, of Vinal Haven. Both of the
sons are members of the Star Hope Lodge, No. 42, Independent Order of Odd
Fellows. Mr. Cleaves is a steadfast Republican in politics and an attendant of
the Methodist church, of which Mrs. Cleaves is a member. Mr. Cleaves is well
known in social organizations, being a member of Harmony Lodge, No. 19,
Independent Order of Odd Fellows of Portland; of Portland Encampment, No. 19,
Independent Order of Odd Fellows; and of the Golden Cross Banner Commandery, No.
76, of Chebeague Island.