Col. J. C. McCloud
Col. J. C. McCloud, of McClouds & Converse, attorneys at law, London, and a prominent member of the Madison County bar, was born in Union County, Ohio, February 15, 1829. He is a son of Curtis McCloud, a native of Vermont, and grandson of Charles McCloud, also emigrated from Vermont to Worthington, Franklin County, Ohio, in 1808. Curtis McCloud subsequently settled in Union County, and about 1839 located on a farm in Darby Township, this county, three miles west of Plain City. He was a farmer by occupation, and resided there till his death in December, 1863. HE married Elizabeth Cutler, also a native of the “Green Mountain State,” and a daughter of John Cutler, who came to Ohio in 1815. Eight children were sent to bless this union, five living, our subject being the only one in Madison County. Mrs. McCloud departed this life in 1880. Col. McCloud came to Madison County when about ten years of age. He received a fair education in the district schools, and, after reaching his majority, attended the Ohio Wesleyan University at Delaware. He assisted his father on the farm, and subsequently taught school for a short period. He read law with R. A. Harrison, a prominent attorney of London, now residing at Columbus, and was admitted to the bar in January, 1857. He immediately formed a law partnership with Mr. Harrison, the firm being known as Harrison & McCloud, until April, 1859, when it was dissolved. He has subsequently been in partnership with Emery Smith, George W. Burnham, Martin O'Donnell, R. H. McCloud, and, on March 9, 1881, the present firm, consisting of J. C. and R. H. McCloud and O. P. Converse, was formed. He was married, in 1854, to Elizabeth Winget, a native of this county, and reared by a cousin of her father, William Winget, of Union County. Mr. and Mrs. McCloud have been given five children, four living—William Mc, R. H. (of McClouds & Converse), Luther and George. John is deceased. Mrs. McCloud is a member of the Presbyterian Church. Col. McCloud is well and favorably known to every person in Madison County, and his success in law practice has been steady and firm. He was Chairman of the County Republican Central Committee for sixteen years, but was never an aspirant for office of any kind. He is recognized as one of the best jury lawyers at the bar, and his citations of law and fact are looked upon as being always correct. To be a lawyer, in the highest sense of that term, has ever been his aim, and the undoubted success he has met with in the practice of his profession, while at the same time he has won and retained the confidence of the people of Madison County, is the strongest evidence that his dealings with his fellow-man have at all times been straightforward, upright and honorable.
From History of Madison County - W. H. Beers [Chicago, 1883]