Matt Cleveland was born Eli Mathus Cleveland in Monroe County, Tennessee May 20, 1822. He was the 7th child of Eli and Mary (Ragon) Cleveland. The Clevelands were of English descent, and the immigrant ancestor is said to have arrived in Virginia about 1700. Matt's grandfather, Robert Cleveland, fought at King's Mountain in the American Revolution under the command of his older brother, Benjamin Cleveland. Cleveland, the county seat of Bradley County, Tennessee, was named after Benjamin. Both Robert's family and Benjamin's family migrated to Wilkes County, North Carolina where Robert was an elector for Thomas Jefferson's candidacy for president. Robert's son, Eli, was born in Wilkes County in 1781 where he married Mary Ragon in 1803. Eli was a minister and merchant, moving the family to Knox County, Tennessee in 1817 and then to Monroe County, Tennessee just before the birth of Matt Cleveland.

Matt Cleveland married Emeline Pennington in Monroe County September 28, 1843. He moved the family to Hamilton County, Tennessee in the 1850s where they prospered. They were living on a $25,000 estate with eight slaves at the start of the Civil War. Matt enlisted with the 2nd Tennessee Infantry at Camp Dick Robinson on September 28, 1861 at the age of 39. He mustered with Company F but was immediately promoted to Major of the regiment. However, in a letter dated February 7, 1862 he resigned due to poor health. His resignation was effective February 22, 1862. Matt and Mary Cleveland had 7 children: Elizabeth Matilda, Polly Ann, Clarissa Caroline, Alpha Emeline, Aley Jones, Eli Mathus Jr. and John Pennington. The part of Hamilton County where the Matt Cleveland family lived became James County, Tennessee in 1871 where Matt died in 1883. (James County again became Hamilton County in 1920). 

"Pioneer Families" by John Wilson, Chattanooga Free Press, Sunday, May 17, 1998 page B12.

Thanks to  R. Jack Stone , 930 Mimosa Trail, Oviedo, Florida, 32765 for his historical and genealogical contributions about Major Cleveland.