AARON G. CLOUD

FROM: The History of Gallatin, Saline, Hamilton, Franklin, and Williamson Counties, Illinois (Chicago: Goodspeed Publishing Co., 1887).  P. 685

        Aaron G. Cloud was born in Dearborn County, Ind., November 1, 1818, the son of William C. and Elizabeth (Guard) Cloud, natives, respectively, of Kentucky and Indiana. The family came to Illinois in 1832, and located on a farm in Gallatin County, where the father died in February, 1844. Our subject was reared on a farm and secured as good an education as was given to youths in that day in the country. When twenty-three he went to Hardin County, Ill., and acted as bookkeeper and financial manager of The Illinois Furnace for five years. He then began mercantile business in his native county at Lawrenceburg, Ind., and with success until September, 1852, when he engaged in the same at McLeansboro until 1876. During his business career he was involuntarily drawn into the real estate business to protect his interests, so that to-day he is one of the largest land owners in southern Illinois. Since 1876 he has done a general loan business on real estate securities with a just reputation for honesty and integrity in his transactions. November 23, 1843, he married Eleanor H. McCoy, a native of Hardin County, Ill. She died December 24, 1886, leaving two children: Chalon G., a banker at McLeansboro, and Mary E., wife of Chalon G. McCoy. Mr. Cloud is a Democrat.