James Colgate Cleveland

James Colgate Cleveland (June 13, 1920 – December 3, 1995) was an American politician in the U.S. state of New Hampshire. He served as a Republican member of the United States House of Representatives from 1963 to 1981.

James Colgate Cleveland
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from New Hampshire's 2nd district
In office January 3, 1963 – January 3, 1981
Preceded by	Perkins Bass
Succeeded by	Judd Gregg
Member of the New Hampshire Senate
In office 1950–1962
Personal details
Born	June 13, 1920 Montclair, New Jersey, U.S.
Died	December 3, 1995 (aged 75) New London, New Hampshire, U.S.
Resting place	Old Main Street Cemetery New London, New Hampshire
Nationality	American
Political party	Republican
Spouse(s)	Hilary Paterson Cleveland
Relations	Patience Cleveland
Children	Cotton Mather (Cleveland) DiLorenzo Garvey James Colby Cleveland David Paterson Cleveland Dr. Lincoln Mather Cleveland Susan Sclater Cleveland
Alma mater	Deerfield Academy Colgate University Yale Law School
Awards	Bronze Star
Military service
Branch/service	United States Army
Years of service	1941-1946, 1951-1952
Rank	Captain
Battles/wars	World War II Korean War

Early life

Cleveland was born in Montclair, Essex County, New Jersey. He attended Deerfield Academy in Deerfield, Massachusetts[1] before graduating from Colgate University in Hamilton, New York in 1942. He then attended Yale Law School as a graduate student. His time at Yale was interrupted when he enlisted in the Army in December 1941. During World War II, he served overseas in the Pacific in the 40th Infantry Division and was discharged as a captain of Field Artillery in February 1946. He returned to Yale after the war and earned his law degree in 1948. He was admitted to the bar and began practicing law in New London in January 1949.

Political career

Cleveland held various political positions in New Hampshire, and served as a Republican member of the New Hampshire Senate from 1950 to 1962.[2] In June 1951 he was recalled up to the Army during the Korean War and was stationed in Germany. He was awarded the Bronze Star for valor, and retired from service in November 1952. He was an organizer and director of New London Trust Company, and served as a member of the New Hampshire State Senate from 1950 to 1962. He served as majority floor leader twice while he was in the State Senate.

In 1962 Cleveland ran as a Republican candidate for the office of United States Representative for 2nd district.[3] He was elected to the 88th Congress and to the eight succeeding Congresses, serving from January 3, 1963 to January 3, 1981. While he stated that he only ran because he didn't think there were good choices for the position, he won the respect of the constituents of his district. By using a bi-annual questionnaire sent to the people in his district, he tried to represent their desires even if it were not his own personal opinion of an issue. In Congress he served on the United States House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure.[4] He was not a candidate for reelection in 1980 to the Ninety-seventh Congress and retired from public life.

Death and legacy

Cleveland died on December 3, 1995 (age 75 years, 173 days) in New London, New Hampshire. [5] He is interred at Old Main Street Cemetery in New London.

In appreciation of Cleveland's work in Congress, the United States Post Office and Court House building in Concord was renamed the James C. Cleveland Federal Building in 1980.[6] In 1982 the James C. Cleveland Bridge was constructed in Berlin, New Hampshire in his honor.[7]

The James C. Cleveland Papers are held by the Cleveland, Colby, Colgate Archives of Colby-Sawyer College in New London.[8]

Family life

Cleveland was the eldest son of Dr. Mather Cleveland and Susan Everett (Colgate) Cleveland. His sister was actress Patience Cleveland. On December 9, 1950 Cleveland married Hilary Paterson, and they moved into the Cleveland summer home in New London. They had five children, Cotton Mather, James Colby, David Paterson, Lincoln Mather, and Susan Sclater. Cleveland's wife became a professor at Colby–Sawyer College.[9]

References

1. "Boyden, Deerfield Headmaster 66 Years, Will Retire in June" (PDF). Fulton History. Retrieved June 10, 2014.
2. "Spotlight on Candidates: Cleveland Seeks 8th Term". The Telegraph. Retrieved June 10, 2014.
3. Belman, Felice and Pride, Mike (2001). The New Hampshire Century: Concord Monitor Profiles of One Hundred People who Shaped it. UPNE. p. 20. ISBN 9781584650874. Retrieved 10 July 2014.
4. "James Colgate Cleveland, 75, Ex-Congressman". The New York Times. Retrieved June 10, 2014.
5. "James Colgate Cleveland, 75, Ex-Congressman". The New York Times. Retrieved June 10, 2014.
6. "Bill Summary & Status96th Congress (1979 - 1980) H.R.7588". The Library of Congress. Retrieved June 10, 2014.
7. Nadeau, Jacklyn T. (2008). Berlin, New Hampshire. Arcadia Publishing. p. 24. ISBN 9780738557830. Retrieved 10 July 2014.
8. James C. Cleveland papers Archived 2012-07-23 at the Wayback Machine
9. "James Colgate Cleveland". 2006 Colby-Sawyer College. Retrieved 10 July 2014.

External links

• United States Congress. "James Colgate Cleveland (id: C000512)". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress.