Cumberland County, Maine - Tristram G. Cleaves
**********************************************************************
USGENWEB ARCHIVES NOTICE: These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any
format for profit or presentation by any other organization or persons. Persons
or organizations desiring to use this material, must obtain the written consent
of the contributor, or the legal representative of the submitter, and contact
the listed USGenWeb archivist with proof of this consent. The submitter has
given permission to the USGenWeb Archives to store the file permanently for free
access. http://www.rootsweb.com/~usgenweb

This copy contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by:
C. Wendland SilverDrusilla@aol.com
Copyright (c) 2005 by C. Wendland
Caitlin's Gold Award Project, Girl Scouts USA, Rio Grande Girl Scout Council,
El Paso, Texas
**********************************************************************

Biography
Tristram G. Cleaves
Biographical Review
Cumberland County, Maine
Boston
Biographical Review Publishing Company
1896
Page 260-261


Tristram G. Cleaves, who enjoys the distinction of being the oldest native male
resident of Yarmouth, Me., was born in this town June 13, 1809. His parents were
Edmund and Jane (Trow) Cleaves, his father's ancestors being related to those of
Governor Cleaves. His great-grandfather, Ebenezer Cleaves, who settled in
Cumberland County many years ago, was a native of Gloucester, Mass. Edmund
Cleaves, first, son of Ebenezer, was one of the early settlers of the town of
Pownal in this county, where he cleared and improved a good farm. He served
under General Washington all through the Revolutionary War, and, after the
termination of hostilities, retired to his homestead, and there passed the rest
of his life, dying at the age of seventy-seven years. He was an industrious,
high-minded, and patriotic citizen. In his religion he was a Congregationalist,
and his name appears as one of the six original members of the Congregational
church in Pownal. He was twice married, his five children being as follows:
Abigail and Edmund, who were by his first union; and Eunice, Dolly, and.
William, who were by his second.

Edmund Cleaves, second, son of the first Edmund, was born in New Gloucester, Me.
When a young man he learned the trade of a shoemaker, and, settling in Yarmouth,
followed that occupation in connection with farming. His farm was situated where
the Grand Trunk Depot now stands, and he resided there until his death, which
took place when he was seventy-two years old. He was a prominent and useful
member of the community, supporting the Whig party in politics; and he, ably
filled some of the town offices. He was a Congregationalist in religion. His
wife, Jane Trow, who was a native of Yarmouth, became the mother of twelve
children, nine of whom grew to maturity; and of these Tristram G., the subject
of this sketch, is now the only survivor. Mrs. Jane T. Cleaves lived to reach
the age of nearly eighty years.

Tristram G. Cleaves commenced his educational course in the common schools of
Yarmouth, and completed it at the academy. In early manhood he settled upon the
farm where he now resides, and, like his father, engaged for many years in both
shoemaking and farming, judiciously alternating these pursuits with satisfactory
results, as was the frequent practice of New England landholders in the early
and middle part of the present century. In the pleasant, comfortable home which
he has occupied for the past fifty-five years, he now lives in retirement from
active labors, his rest having been well earned.

On January 3, 1832, Mr. Cleaves was united in marriage with Mrs. Mary Davis, who
was born in Freeport in September, 1802. She was a daughter of Samuel and
Patience Davis, and widow of Thomas Davis, by whom she had one daughter, Mary
E., who became Mrs. Gad Hitchcock. Mr. and Mrs. Cleaves had four children, as
follows: Jane Trow, who died at the age of fifty-eight; Abigail Davis, who died,
aged nine years; Rachel B., who died, aged three years; and Thomas G., who died
at the age of forty-two years. Mrs. Cleaves died March 28, 1874. She was a
member of the Congregational church, with which Mr. Cleaves has been united for
many years. He has been called upon to mourn the loss of both wife and children,
the only surviving member of his family being his stepdaughter, Mrs. Hitchcock;
but he bears his affliction with patient resignation. He is a Republican in
politics.