ELIJAH C. CLEAVER, farmer, P.O. Roaring Creek, was born in Columbia County, Penn., March 18, 1833, a son of Joseph and Sarah (CASE) CLEAVER, natives of Penn., and of Scotch-(Holland) Dutch descent. His great-grandfather came from Scotland in 1786, and settled in New Jersey. His ancestors on both sides came from that State to Columbia County, Penn., about 1806. The grandfather, David CLEAVER, settled in Catawissa, where he engaged in mercantile business; was among the first merchants of that place and the only one at that time. He also owned several farms in Franklin Township—some 400 or 500 acres—which he rented out. He built the brick hotel in Catawissa known as the "Susquenanna House," but never conducted it, engaging in mercantile business all his life after coming to this country. He reared six children: Rebecca, Elizabeth, Elijah, Joseph, John and David, all of whom are now deceased. Subject's maternal grandfather, Adam CASE, came about the same time and settled in Catawissa, where he bought a farm along the Catawissa Creek. He carried on the farming all his life. He reared a family of thirteen children, as follows: Elizabeth, Hester, Sibilla, Jonathan, William, Jacob, Nathan, Malan, Christian, Milton, Sarah, Rebecca, Susanna. Four of these are yet living: Christian, at Havre de Grace, Md.; Jonathan, in Illinois, married a Miss COX; Sibilla, widow of John MANLEY, in Danville, Penn., and Rebecca, wife of Richard DOUTY, in Shamokin, Penn. Adam CASE died January 29, 1848. Joseph, the father of our subject, was born in Catawissa Township, and was brought up a farmer, and also did teaming. After his marriage he settled in what is now known as Franklin Township, and there followed farming all his life, owning a farm at the time of his death, February 22, 1834. His widow died January 27, 1856. They were the parents of five children: Eliza (deceased). Harriet (deceased). Matilda (wife of Allen JOHN, in Mahaska County, Iowa), Elijah C. and Rebecca (deceased). Our subject was only eleven months old when his father died, and he remained with his mother until sixteen years of age, when he hired himself out for four years. In 1852 he commenced life for himself, and rented a farm in Roaringcreek Township, which he cultivated one year before his marriage, his sister keeping house for him. After his marriage he remained on the same farm one year, and then moved into Catawissa where he now resides and purchased the farm consisting of 104 acres of land. He has made all the improvements on the place, all of which are first-class. He married, March 24, 1853, Martha A. COOL, daughter of Philip and Hannah (SMITH) COOL. Mr. and Mrs. CLEAVER are the parents of nine children (eight of whom are now living): Wesley M., Britton W. (married to Sarah ERNEST), Charles L. (married to Mary J. PERRY), Nelson E., Curtis (deceased), Clarence Grant, Joseph C., Rosie A. and Hannah L. Wesley M. is a graduate in both courses (degrees: B. E., M. E.; B. S., M. S.) of the Bloomsburg Normal School, and also a graduate from Amherst College, 1886, classical course; Nelson E. is a graduate of the collegiate preparatory course of Bloomsburg; he has attended, three years, Dickinson College, Carlisle, and will graduate in 1887. Mr. CLEAVER has served as school director one term. He and his wife and five of their children are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. He is a member of the G. A. R. at Catawissa. During the civil war he served in Company I, Thirteenth Regiment, Pennsylvania Volunteer Militia, and was at Camp Biddle and Cold Springs, near Hagerstown during an emergency. In politics he is a Republican. (History of Columbia and Montour Counties Pennsylvania, Battle, 1887, pg. 493)