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The Cloud Family
(264 Jesse Cloud)
of fifty dollars (not $100 as always stated), in the issue of October 19, with the poem that won the second prize of twenty five dollars. The was the "Song of the Wind" by Henry Wilton -- (otherwise J.H. Hewitt -- a writer of verse and composer of music, employed in the editorial department of the paper. Poe's poem "The Coliseum" appears in the next issue or number. Lambert A. Wilmer and Dr. Snodgrass -- who figures in various "Reminiscences of Poe" -- as editor or proprietor of the "Visitor" -- had absolutely nothing whatever to do with the paper at this time. Poe became a frequent visitor at Mr. Cloud's house, and he was never regarded by the family as a man who drank to excess, but was compassionated for his a parent (sic) physical weakness, and it was a usual thing for strong coffee to be sent into the office when he was known to be there.
All three of Mr. Cloud's sons -- Charles Feree, Robert Matson, and Isaac Dubois were connected with the press of Baltimore. In 1840 Charles F. and Robert M. established the "Argus" and continued its publication until the death of Robert M. Cloud in 1859. After starting the daily paper, the "Visitor" was sold, but the change of management was not favorable to it, and it was merged finally and lost in another paper.
In 1862 J. Cloud Norris -- a Grandson of Jesse Cloud -- began the publication of the "Sunday Telegram," the first successful Sunday paper in Baltimore. In 1857, after recovering from an operation for the removal of cataract, Mr. Cloud went to Ohio and Kentucky to visit relatives. The year after his return he died in the 78th year of his age.
Jesse Cloud was a man of fine character, deeply thoughtful -- all his tastes were intellectual, and all his impulses benevolent. Genuinly (sic) religious (though never united with any denomination) he bore all the trials of life with fortitude. His selfcontrol (sic) was perfect, his manner uniformly reserved and courteous. A portrait from life shows him to bave been of dark complexion with hazel eyes and gray hair rolled back from the face and tied behind in a queue. He wore his hair thus until his death, and was one of the last if not the very last of the gentlemen of Baltimore that wore a queue.
Mr. Cloud is represented sole in the female line and the name Cloud is extinct in this branch.
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