Person:Elijah Cleveland (2)

Elijah was born in July 1846 in Locust Grove, Henry county, Georgia. Elijah married Martha "Mattie" Ann Snuggs about 1874. They had 8 children, 5 girls and 3 boys. Elijah and Mattie settled in Moorefield, Independence county, Arkansas. Elijah was a farmer. His crops were destroyed several times by floods, so they decided to move to Central Mississippi. Mattie had relatives living there. They made their final arrangements to move, packing a few pieces of furniture, bedding, their personal items, and the five youngest children in a covered wagon and started on the trip. At the end of the third day on the road, they reached Corinth, Alcorn county, Mississippi. After spending the night and talking with some of the citizens, Elijah decided this would be a good place to live. At first the family was disappointed, because they were anxious to see their "kin" in Central Mississippi. They seattled East of Corinth, on a farm Elijah purchased. He farmed there until the end of 1903. In 1904, the family moved near town so Lon (Elonza) could attend the Business School. After Lon finished, he stayed on there to teach. Their other sons and daughters had jobs in Corinth. This branch of the family was Methodist. Elijah died on April 21, 1906 in Corinth, Alcorn county, Mississippi. He and Mattie are buried side by side in Corinth City Cemetery.