Page:Appletons' Cyclopædia of American Biography (1900, volume 1).djvu/699

CLEVENGER, Shobal Vail, sculptor, b. near Middletown, Butler co., Ohio, 22 Oct., 1812; d. at sea, 23 Sept., 1843. He was the son of a New Jersey weaver, went to Cincinnati when a boy, and found occupation as a stone-cutter. Having developed artistic ability, as was shown by some very creditable tombstone work, he was induced by David Guid to carve busts in freestone. His first effort in this direction was the likeness of E. S. Thomas, then editor of the Cincinnati "Evening Post," which was executed directly in the stone, without the intervention of plaster. He subsequently devoted himself to art, and transferred his studio to New York. Among his sitters were William Henry Harrison, Henry Clay, Martin Van Buren, Daniel Webster, Edward Everett, and Washington Allston. Specimens of his work are now preserved in the art-galleries of the Boston athenaeum, the New York and Philadelphia historical societies, the Metropolitan museum of art in New York, and the Academy of fine arts in Philadelphia. His bust of Daniel Webster, recognized as the most faithful likeness of the great statesman, was selected by the Post-office department as best adapted for representation on the fifteen cent U. S. postage-stamp. In 1840 he went to reside in Rome, where he executed the “North American Indian,” which was the first distinctive American piece of sculpture made in Rome, and attracted a large number of Italians to his studio. While in Italy he contracted pulmonary phthsis by inhalation of stone-dust. He died when one day's sail from Gibraltar, and his body was consigned to the ocean. His works are characterized by remarkable fidelity, strength, and beauty of execution. Henry T. Tuckerman says of him: “Brief as was the life of Clevenger, it was for the most part happy and altogether honorable.” — His son, Shobal Vail, physician, b. in Florence, Italy, 24 March, 1843, received his early education in the Jesuit college of New Orleans, and later was graduated at Chicago medical college. In 1860 he filled a clerkship in a St. Louis bank, which he resigned to visit New Mexico, crossing the plains for this purpose, but returning soon after the beginning of the civil war. He enlisted in the U. S. army, and served in the engineer corps, attaining the rank of first lieutenant. Subsequently he was engaged in surveying in Montana and Dakota, and filled the office of U. S. deputy surveyor. Later he built the first telegraph-line through Dakota, and for a time was chief engineer of the Dakota southern railroad. In 1873 he began the study of medicine under army surgeons in Fort Sully, while holding the appointment of civilian meteorologist in the U. S. signal service. He settled in Chicago in 1879, and after studying medicine became a specialist in nervous and mental diseases. For some years he was pathologist to the Chicago county insane asylum, and he is consulting physician in his specialties to the Michael Reese hospital and to the Alexian Brothers' hospital. He has also held the professorship of anatomy in the Art institute of Chicago. Dr. Clevenger is a member of many scientific organizations, and a frequent contributor to the scientific press. He has published a “Treatise on Government Surveying” (New York, 1874); “Comparative Physiology and Psychology” (Chicago, 1885); and “Lectures on Artistic Anatomy and the Sciences Useful to the Artist” (New York, 1887).

CLIFFORD, John Henry, governor of Massachusetts, b. in Providence, R. I., 16 Jan., 1809; d. in New Bedford, Mass., 2 Jan., 1876. He was graduated at Brown in 1827, studied law, and settled in New Bedford, and soon acquired an exten- sive practice. In 1835 he became a member of the Massachusetts legislature, and in 1862 was president of the senate. From 1849 till 1858 he was attorney-general of the state, except during the years 1853-'4, when he filled the office of governor. Among the prominent cases in which he acted for the state was the prosecution of Prof. John W. Webster, of Harvard, for the murder of Dr. George Parkman in 1850. In 1867 he retired from the legal profession and became president of the Boston and Providence railroad company. He received the degree of LL. D. from Brown in 1849, Amherst in 1853, and Harvard in 1853. For several years he was president of the board of overseers of Harvard.

CLIFFORD, Nathan, jurist, b. in Rumney, N. H., 18 Aug., 1803; d. in Cornish, Me., 25 July, 1881. He received his early education at the Haver- hill, N. H., academy, and later supported himself while studying at the Hampton literary institution. After graduation he studied law, was admitted to the bar, and settled in York county. Me., in 1827. From 1830 till 1834 he was a member of the Maine legislature, and during the last two years was speaker. He was a member of the democratic party, and was considered one of its ablest leaders. In 1834 he was appointed attorney-general of Maine, an office which he filled until 1838, when he was elected to congress and served for two terms, from 2 Dec, 1839, till 3 March, 1843. Dur- ing the presidential canvass of 1840 he advocated the re-election of Martin Van Buren, and met in public discussion many of the most distinguished whig orators, gaining lor himself the reputation of being one of the most eloquent champions of the democracy. In 1846 Mr. Clifford became attorney- general in Pres- ident Polk's cabinet. In ar- ranging the terms of peace between Mexico and the United States, he went to Mexico as the U. S. commis- sioner, with the powers of en- voy extraordi- nary and min- ister plenipo- tentiary ; and through him the treaty wiis arranged with the Mexican government, by

which California became a part of the United States. He served from 18 March, 1848, till 6 Sept., 1849, after which he returned to Maine and resumed his law practice. In 1858 he was nom- inated as an associate justice of the supreme court by President Buchanan. To the people of Maine this appointment gave great satisfaction, as he was not only the first cabinet officer from that state, but also the only representative she ever had in the su- preme court. In 1877, as the oldest associate judge, he became president of the electoral commission con- vened early in that year. Although a firm believer in Mr. Tilden's election he conducted the proceed- ings with perfect impartiality. Subsequent to the inauguration of President Hayes he refrained from visiting the executive mansion. In October, 1880, he was attacked with a serious illness, a complica- tion of disorders arose, and it became necessary to amputate one of his feet in consequence of gan-