Orestes Cleveland

Orestes Cleveland, Sr.
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from New Jersey's 5th district
In office March 4, 1869 – March 3, 1871
Preceded by	George A. Halsey
Succeeded by	George A. Halsey
14th and 24th Mayor of Jersey City
In office May 2, 1864 – May 5, 1867
Preceded by	John B. Romar
Succeeded by	James Gopsill
In office May 3, 1886 – May 1, 1892
Preceded by	Gilbert Collins
Succeeded by	Peter F. Wanser
Personal details
Born	March 2, 1829 Duanesburg, New York, USA
Died	March 30, 1896 (aged 67) Norwich, Vermont, USA
Political party	Democratic
Profession	Politician, Leather Manufacturer

Orestes Cleveland, Sr. (March 2, 1829 – March 30, 1896) was an American manufacturer and Democratic Party politician who represented New Jersey's 5th congressional district from 1869 to 1871, and served two separate stints as Mayor of Jersey City.

Biography

Born in Duanesburg, New York, Cleveland attended common schools as a child. He moved to Jersey City, New Jersey in 1845 and became involved in the manufacturing of black lead, stove polish and pencils. He married and had a son, Orestes Cleveland, Jr. (born 25 January 1857).^[1]

He was a member of the Jersey City Board of Aldermen in 1861 and 1862, serving as president in the latter year, and was mayor of Jersey City from 1864 to 1867.

Cleveland was elected a Democrat to the United States House of Representatives in 1868, serving from 1869 to 1871, being unsuccessful for reelection in 1870.

Afterward, he engaged in business with the Forbes Fibre Company in Jersey City, New Jersey, was an unsuccessful Democratic candidate for Governor of New Jersey in 1880 losing to George C. Ludlow, and was again mayor of Jersey City, serving again from 1886 to 1892. Cleveland was one of the organizers of the Jersey City Board of Trade in 1888 and served as its first president. He moved to Tenafly, New Jersey in 1892 and then again to Englewood, New Jersey. He died in Norwich, Vermont on March 30, 1896, where he had gone in search of health.^[2] He was interred in Fairview Cemetery in Norwich.

External links

• Orestes Cleveland at the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress
• Orestes Cleveland at The Political Graveyard
• Orestes Cleveland at Find A Grave
• Orestes Cleveland at City of Jersey City

References

1. Orestes Cleveland, Jr. passport application for 11 February 1873
2. "Orestes Cleveland". New York Times. April 1, 1896. Retrieved 2010-10-20. Orestes Cleveland formerly Mayor of Jersey City and one of the most prominent politicians in New Jersey died Monday in Norwich, VT. He was born in Schenectady [sic] ...

• Orestes Cleveland at the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress