[1] He assumed the office of Sheriff after his predecessor, Gustav Fischer, absconded in December 1869, leaving behind his family and a number of disgruntled creditors.
[2] Cleaves was a police sergeant in Chicago before the beginning of the American Civil War.
On July 4, 1867, Cleaves' right arm was accidentally blown off by a cannon during an Independence Day celebration.
He ran for Coroner of Cook County in 1868 and won the election in November.
He resigned a position as a police substation manager to fill the coroner's office.