Biographies For Muscatine County Iowa 1889

Source: Portrait and Biographical Album, Muscatine County, Iowa, 1889, page 268
HON. DAVID C. CLOUD, was born in Champaign County, Ohio, Jan. 29, 1817, and is a son of Robert and Anna ( Cromer ) Cloud. On his father's side he is of French descent, and on his mother's of German descent. His parents were married in Fairfield County, Ohio, from which place they removed to Champaign County, and subsequently to Franklin County in the same State, where they both died. From six to twelve years of age our subject attended the public school three months in the winter. Later he attended school about six weeks, which comprises all the education obtained in school. When fifteen years old he commenced learning the trade of a book-binder, but after six months quit and commenced to learn the carpenter's trade. While an apprentice he worked on the lunatic asylum at Columbus, Ohio. In that city he was married to Miss Arrietta T. Dibble, by whom he had three sons: the first-born died in infancy; Elezer D., died at the age of two months; Frank, died at the age of five years.

In company with his father-in-law and family, Mr. Cloud moved to Muscatine, landing here May 2, 1839. The place was then known as Bloomington. He worked at his trade for some eight years, and during that time read law and began practice. While studying law he was elected Justice of the Peace, and soon after his admission was elected Prosecuting Attorney of the county and served two terms. On the 16th day of March, 1846, Mrs. Cloud died, and Nov.28, 1848, Mr. Cloud married Mrs. Harriet M. Morrow, widow of James G. Morrow, and daughter of William R. Olds. Of their union three children were born: William, died at the age of two and a half years; George R. married Mollie Dunsmore, and lives in Carroll County, Iowa; Annie, who married E. F. Schaall, died in May, 1888.

In 1852 Mr. Cloud was elected Attorney-General of the State, the first to hold that position and served until 1856. He was then a Democrat of Free-Soil tendencies. In that year he was a candidate for the office of Representative to the Legislature, was elected and served two years. In 1860 he supported Lincoln for the Presidency, and continued to act with the Republican party until 1872. He was an active supporter of the Union party during the war, and during that time wrote a work entitled, " The War Powers of the President," which was received with great favor. At a sanitary fair held in Muscatine he delivered an address which was highly spoken of by the press throughout the State. In 1872 Mr. Cloud was a delegate to the Democratic Convention at Cincinnati, and helped to nominate Horace Greeley for the Presidency. He has since been an independent Democrat in politics. In 1872 he published a book entitled. " Monopolies and the People," of which a large edition was sold.

Mrs Harriet M. Cloud died June 15, 1880, and Mr. Cloud was united in marriage, in April, 1884, with Mrs. Henrietta M. Quinn, a native of Pennsylvania, and a daughter of John Stephenson. Mrs. Cloud belongs to the Episcopal Church. In his younger days Mr. Cloud was a Mason, but in later years has not affiliated with that order. Few men are better known throughout the State than Mr. Cloud, who has been a citizen of Muscatine for fifty years, and one of the leading members of the bar for forty-two years.

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