My Genealogy Hound

GEORGE CLEVER, who laid out the town of Cleversburg, and gave to it his honored name, has been one of the important factors in the development of the natural resources of Cumberland county. As a merchant, farmer, lumberman, public official, or in whatever position he is found, he has played well his part, and now, when retired from active business his integrity is still unquestioned, and his reputation unstained. The Clever family originated in Germany, and was founded in America by William Clever, who emigrated in the early days, and settled in New Jersey.

Barnhart Clever, son of the emigrant, was born in New Jersey, and on reaching manhood, moved first to Lancaster county, and thence to Cumberland county, making the latter his permanent home. He married a Miss Bollinger, and they reared a family of twelve children, six sons and six daughters, all of whom lived to attain mature years.

Conrad Clever, son of Barnhart, was born in Lancaster county in 1781, and was but six years of age when his parents came to Cumberland county, where he grew to manhood. For many years he was engaged in farming meeting with great success in all his undertakings. He became widely known throughout the county, because of his extended operations, and he was universally respected. He was very active in public affairs, and filled with great credit many public offices. He was a man of large stature, and was possessed of marvelous strength and endurance. His death occurred in 1861, in his eighty-first year. He married Catherine Walters, who bore him four sons, Joseph, David, John W. and George, all of whom except George, the youngest, are dead. The mother died in 1839, and with her husband is buried in Spring Hill Cemetery.

George Clever was born upon a farm in Southampton township Jan. 4, 1819, and passed his childhood on his native place. He attended a pay school, and later on at the Clever school, the latter a rude log structure. His schoolmates were his brother David, James B. Ellinger and John McLean. While his opportunities for obtaining an education from books were few, he improved what he had, and he was given unlimited facilities for education along agricultural lines. He remained at home assisting his father until he was twenty-five years old. For three years after his marriage he engaged in farming on the old homestead, and in 1848 he moved to his present farm, where he also operated a grist mill, an old fashioned burr mill, receiving its water supply from a mountain stream. He was a versatile man, and had a variety of occupations. At the same time he was cultivating his farm and operating a gristmill, he ran a general store, and later added a sawmill for the manufacture of hard lumber, which he sold to his neighbors. His means rapidly accumulated, and he opened other stores in the county, having six or seven different stores in Cumberland county alone. He continued to be actively engaged in business until 1901. He invested wisely in real estate, purchasing farms, and village property until he owned a great deal of valuable property. In 1850 he laid out Cleversburg, and for many years he was connected with the iron industry in mining and shipping ore. Whatever he attempted seemed to be successful, and yet none of his ventures were the result of hasty decision, but rather the outcome of his good judgment and foresight

In his early years Mr. Clever was an Old Line Whig, and cast his first vote for President in 1840, but since the formation of the Republican party he has been an ardent supporter of its principles. For thirty-five years he was postmaster of Cleversburg, but he has never been an office seeker. While he served one term as jury commissioner, and for a number of years was a member of the school board, it was because he felt it to be a good citizen’s duty to accept such responsibility, if possible, when thrust upon him. For several years he was a director of the First National Bank of Shippensburg. In the Reformed Church at Shippensburg, of which he and his wife are both active members, he has been deacon and trustee for many years.

In 1845 Mr. Clever married Miss Isabel Kelso, of Southampton township, born Dec. 21, 1822, daughter of Samuel and Catherine (Stough) Kelso. Three of the eight children born of this union still survive: Samuel K., at home; Conrad, a prominent minister of the Reformed Church at Baltimore, Md.; and Jennie S., at home. George G. is deceased. Mr. and Mrs. Clever reside in their comfortable home in Shippensburg, where they are passing a serene old age. While several years past four score Mr. Clever is still enjoying fair health and is in the full possession of his mental faculties. His life has been crowded with works, and he has been permitted to live to see the fruition of his many enterprises, and to enjoy a prosperity wrought by his own hands.