[1] He attended Otterbein University in Westerville, Ohio and taught school for five years.

[1][2] He was elected to the 71st General Assembly of the Ohio House of Representatives, (1894-1896), as a Republican.

[1] He was re-elected to the 72nd General Assembly, (1896-1898), when he was selected by his peers as Speaker.

[2] David L. Sleeper was married November 7, 1877 to Mary Dell "Della" Burson of Athens County, Ohio.

[2] He died suddenly March 31, 1914 of apoplexy,[4] and is buried in Lawton, Oklahoma.