CLEVELAND, Rhodes M. 1831-1891

CLEVELAND, FLINT

Posted By: County Coordinator
Date: 4/29/2010 at 14:24:22

OBITUARY: R.M. Cleveland, 1831-1891

#1 of 2 items:

Death of R. M. Cleveland

R. M. Cleveland was born at Alden, New York, February 8, 1831, and died at Osage, Iowa, November 20, 1891, at the age of 60 years, 9 months and 12 days.

Mr. Cleveland lived at his birthplace until about 18 years of age, when he came west and made his home in Wisconsin. At Whitewater, in that state, on the first day of January, 1856, he was united in marriage with Miss Nancy Flint, who journeyed side by side with him for nearly 36 years, and gave him unremitting attention and loving care during the time of his last illness.

In 1861, they came to Chickasaw county, Iowa, and settled on a farm living there until 1876, when they went to Charles City to engage in keeping hotel.

Seeing a better opportunity here, they came to Osage in July 1877, taking charge of the Merchants, which with the exception of about three years on the farm east of town and in Brookings, Dakota, they have run since that time. During the past summer he enlarged and otherwise improved the hotel at a large outlay of money. In those changes and improvements he took great interest, and was well satisfied with the marked increase of business.

To Mr. and Mrs. Cleveland four children were born; one of them died when young and was buried in Chickasaw county. The other three were present to minister to their father during the week before his death. Byron lives in Waterloo, Mrs. Spicer in La Crosse, Wisconsin, and Miss Pet, the youngest of the family, has always been at home. His aged mother and a sister live at Lake Mills, Wisconsin, and a brother and sister at Ontario, Canada.

We knew Mr. Cleveland quite well, having made our home with him at the hotel for over a year. He was intelligent, well-informed, some what reserved in manner, but always a kind-hearted, social gentleman. In his business affairs he was conservative, careful and systematic. He had just succeeded in getting his house and business in a condition satisfactory and easy when he was stricken down by disease and death.

The funeral services, conducted by Rev. C. B. Moody of the Congregational church, were held in the parlors of the hotel at 2 o'clock Sunday afternoon, in the presence of a large number of friends. The pall bearers were Messrs. E. N. Harriman, E. P. Fay, A. W. Tallman, Parr Goodall, G. F. Humbert and A. C. Ross, all of whom are boarding at the hotel at the present time.

The fact that the family have lived together so long in almost unbroken condition makes the death of husband and father a sore affliction and especially so to Mrs. Cleveland and Pet, who, together with him, have made up the home circle for the past eight years. They all have the sincere sympathy of many friends.

The public will be glad to know that no change will take place in the business, excepting as they do to remain where they are and continue the business right along as though there were no heavy hearts or vacant chair.

Submitted by Marilyn O'connor 2003

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
#2:

Osage City Cemetery:

CLEVELAND, RHODES M. (location:) 0774 12 (death/burial date:) 20 NOV 1891.