The weekly Floridian. [volume] (Tallahassee, Fla.) 1867-19??, 1884-07-15

stephen q. Cleveland.
Stephen Grover Cleveland was born in 1897
in the obscure little town OF Caldwell, Essex
county, N. J., Immediately opposite New York.
His father WAS minister, with large family
and small salary. He finally moved to Fay
ettcvllc where young Grover Cleveland first
went to school at the village academy, and
where he finally obtained employment in IL thriv
ing country store. lie left work to go back to
school, and was in atten lance there when his
father died. This broke up the family. Grover
went TO Buffalo, where his uncle. Lewis F. Allen,
was prominent ,lock breeder, and acted rs his
clerk for some years. His desire, however, had
always been to become lawyer, and soon
he was able he entered the Office of legal firm
in Butfalo-R0ge's, Bowen IL Rpgcrs-where
he remained touI years studying law, finally
rising to the position o their managing clerk.
In 1868, when twenty six years of age, he be-
gan his public life rs Assistant District Attorney
Of Erie county. He leld this office for three
years, during which period nearly all the official
duties fell on his shoulders. so faithfully did he
administer the Office that in 1865 he was nomi
mated by the Democrats for District Attorney,
but ii WAS bad year for Democrats, during the
heat and eXctem mt of the war, and young
Cleveland was def ated for the office by his Re-
publican opponent, who, by the by afterward
became his law pa rtner.
In 500 he formed u law partnership with
J. X. Vandcrpool, which lasted for two years.
He atterward associated himself with a. II.
Lansing, and again with Oscar Folsom. The
last partnership was broken up by the election
OF Cleveland rs Sh .ritf Of Erie county in 1869.
He returned to tlc law again when his term
as sheriff expired and soon obtained distinction
as one OF the frs lawyers of Western New
York
Grover Clcvcanl'- election as Mayor of But
suddenly lifted him from local into national
prominence The incidents of that election and
subsequent admins ration are familiar through
out the country. The election itself was an
almost unparalleled triumph seeing that it was
secured by the largest majority ever known, thus
demonstrating the unbolndcd confidence which
the people had In tie special fitness of their can
didate to carry out the refoIm and in his unas-
sailablc integrity.
a complete success, and when the New York
Democratic State Convention met in 1881 he
was the most prominent candidate for Governor.
He was nominated and elected by the largest
majority, 100000 ever given any candidate in
any State in the u ion
All the traits of ajsiduous in >!ustry, unostcnta-
tious dignity, thoIoI ghnrss and simplicity, noted
in Grover Clevcland's early career are Observa-
bic in his present life at Albany. On the day
before his inauguration rs Governor, he came
down from Buffalo quietly with his law partner,
Mr. Bissell, went t. the executive mansion and
spcnt the night On tn, morrow the city was
excited with the approaching ceremonies The
streets were crowtcd, but there was to be no
military parade, no procession. The Governor
elect walked from the Executive mansion in
company with his friend to the capitol, which is
IA mile distant, joni " the throngs that were 60
ing that way. He nter'.d the building unrecog
nzcd but quiteat his ease, sallntered up to the eX
ccutive chamber, and WAS there met by Gov
crnor Cornell. The moment the inaugural cele-
mony was over he passed into the spacious Elk
ecutive Chamber which is set apart for his use
ordered that the doors should be opened to adj
nit anybody, and went Immediately to work
Never was any important public event 50
completely stripped of its fuss and feathers.
Never wasa more radio Il change effected in the
official routine OF he Executive Department.
Hitherto there were all sorts of delays and i'm
pediments in the path t. the Governor Cards
had to be sent in. ushrrs conducted citizens into
ante rooms and left them TO cool their heels on
the States tcssellated floor. But the moment
Grover Cleveland took possession he issued an
order to admit anybody at once who wished to
see him. And up to the present time he has
been quite able himself to prevent this return to
simplicity from being abused. His
habits are indicative of his dislike OF ostcnlaiion
and official parade, and OF his methodcAl and
training. He walks from the Exec
utivc Mansion every morning at O'Clock to the
Capitol and goes straight to work. At 1:30 he
walks back to his lunch, which takes an hour
He then returns on foot to work again and
mains until &, when he goes to dinner He is
back at and generally stays unti IL or r. He
keeps no horses or extra servants. AMI has not
been known to ride since he has been in Albany
except for an occasional pleasure jaunt. The
amount of work thus accomplishcd-as his pri |
vatc secretary, Mr. Daniel s. Lamont, tcstiteS-
is something enormous
Gov Cleveand's administration of the govern
orshp has been singularly successful. He
saved the State millions of dollars he reformed |
the insurance bureau, which hal become mere |
political dispensary; in fact he reformed every |
branch of the government. He was very liberal
in his vetocs, vetoing a number of bills passed |
by The Legislature, and hr kept w. constant
warfare against eXtravagance and corruption OF
every kind
The Cleveland family is ct New En- gland or-
5in, coming originally from Connecticut Gro
yer Cleveland is large in size, weighing probably
$50 pounds lie is vgor ,Is r"bnst, with light
thin brown hair, and decidedly pre-.
possessing in appearance He is IL bachelor.
Thomas A. Hendricks.
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