History of Brighton, (Somerset County) Maine United States of America

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Biographies:

Henry Bradstreet Cleaves Biographical Sketch

Henry Bradstreet Cleaves, governor of Maine, was born at Brighton, Maine, Feb. 6, 1840; son of Thomas and Sophia (Bradstreet) Cleaves; and grandson of Benjamin Cleaves. He was educated in the public schools and at Brighton academy. In 1862 he enlisted as a private in the 23rd Maine volunteers, serving at Poolesville and Harper's Ferry, on the Potomac, and gaining promotion to the rank of orderly sergeant. At the expiration of his term of service he re-enlisted for three years, and served as 1st lieutenant until the close of the war. He was admitted to the bar in 1868, and practised in partnership with his brother, Judge Nathan Cleaves of Portland, Maine. In 1876 and 1877 he was a member of the state legislature, and in 1877-79 served as city solicitor of Portland. In 1880 he was elected attorney general of the state and was twice re-elected. He was elected governor of Maine in 1892 and was re-elected in 1894, his term of office expiring in January, 1897.

From: Twentieth Century Biographical Dictionary of Notable Americans, Johnson, Rossiter, editor