New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1884-07-12
DEMOCRATIC CANDIDATES.
STEPHEN GROVER CLEVELAND.
HIS ANCESTRY, EARLY LIFE AND BRIEF PUBLIC
CAREER.


the United States is of early Connecticut ancestry.
His great grandfather. Aaron Cleveland, was q
preacher at Norwich. and was also elected 10 tho
State Legislature. His great-uncle, Charles Cleve-
land tho grandfather on his mothers side OF
Bishop 4. Cleveland Coke, of Western New-York.
His grandfather. William Cleveland, was silver
smith, and moved from Connecticut 10 settle in
Buffalo. \. Y. His father Richard +. Cleveland,
was Presbyterian preacher who. having welded
Miss Neal, of Baltimore had charge of churches
respectively in Haddam, Conn, Caldwell. y. j..
Fayetteville, ~ Y. Clinton, n. Y, and Holland
Patent. Y. v, where he died in 1858, and was fol-
lowed by his wife IN 1889.
stephen Grover Cleveland was born at Cad-
well, n. j., on March IL, 1887, the fifth
of nine children. The family was poor and
the children had to go to work early. Grover was
for a time employed IN a store in Fayetteville
\. Y, and later educated at an academy in
Clinton. On leaving school he teacher IN thus
city for short time, and them at the age of seven
teen set out for the West, intending TO go to Ohio.
But stopping at Buffalo to visit his uncle Lewis t.
Allen, he was persuaded to settle there. He began
the study of law mt once in the office of Rogers
Bowen Il Rogers, and in 1859 was admitted TO the
bar. His political preferences at this time led him
to join the Democratic party to which he has ever
since perslstcntly adhered.
Three years after being admitted to the bar he
was appointed Assistant Dstrict-AtOrney, by a
Democrat and in 1865 his party nominated him
for the Office of District-AttOrev but lie was
beaten by the Republican candidate Lyman *.
Bass. Next year Mr.. Cleveland formed a law part
nership with l. V. Vanderpo-l, but it was dis
solved a few months later by Mr. Wander
pOePs elevation to police justceship. Then he be-
came member of the firm of Laning Cleveland &
i. -. i.toN N,tn
ator A. p. Laning Mr.. Cleveland left his place in
this firm in 1870 when he elected sheriff of
tine county for term Of three years. On quitting
that office he joined his old antagonist, LYMAN X.
Bass, and W. $. Bissell, in forming new law firm,
Of which he became the head a few years later on
Mr.. BASES removal to this city.
In 1880 politics in Buffalo became considerably
mixed There was much dissatisfaction in the lie
publican party an spirit of revolt against the old
managers of party affairs, while the Democrats
worked for all they were worth the few local
Offices under their control. The following year
there was a cry for Reform" and Mr.. Cleveland
was elected Mayor of the city by a com blna-
ton # Democrats aud Republicans Buffalo being
normally strongly Republican city. HIS ma
iorty was little more than 5000. In his admin
istraton of the may0ralty he professed TO pursue
an independent aud reform" course, coming often
into conflict with the Common Council aud break
ing ths traditions of the Office without hesitation
Nv vetong "A number of measures which, he
charged were tainted with jobbery, he gained
reputation as a reiormer and friend of economy
in the public service. ,
Casting about IN the late summer of 1852 for
! candidate with whom to oppose Secretary FOlger
IN the GubsrnatOrial campaign, tine Democratic
managers fixed upon Mayor Cleveland. and owing
to the anomalous condition of politics IN TINS state
| lie was elected by a majority tho phenomenal pro-
| portions of which indicated. not his personal
strength nor the strength OF his party, but merely
| the extent 10 which Republican voters stayed at
| home or in some instances. voted the Democratic
! ticket TO rebuke certain phases OF
! Republican party management. Mr.. Cleveland
| thus took rank among the tldal-waye
statesmen a class prOVerbislly apt 10 go IN At the
! large but come ont at the small end Of the horn of
! public esteem. Entering Office AZ Governor at the
! beginning of 1883, Mr.. Cleveland has now served
! his party and the State in that capacity for more
! than eighteen months. OF his appointments TO of
cs actions in regard 10 legislation, etc, some with
| mot with very general approval, and some nave
! widespread dsfav0r. He vetoed the Five Cent
! Fare bill. for which he was ccnsurcd BY leaders OF
! away from the New-lork Aldermen the power to
! control tho Mayors appointments, andythussallen-
ated tho affections of lammauy Hall. thus he
finds hmsofat the middle of his term of office IN
strong opposition TO important wing OF hs party.
Governor Cleveland has a brother living who ~ a
PRESBYTERIAN minister near itica. He has five slS-
ters One OF them lives on the old homestead at
Holland Patent is unmarried and Is strong adVo-
| cate of Woman's Rights. Another IL the vile OF an
are itect in Toledo Ohio, and third IS the wife OF
A missionary IN India sir. Cleveland has reuia med
a bachelor. In his official work ne Is slow but pains
taking. He is fairly good public speaker, with a
shrill voice and convincing though not eloquent
manner and he prepares hs speeches carefully be-
forehand He is reputed 10 he not wealthy but IN
comfortable circumstances