St. Paul daily globe., 1884-09-02
GOV. CLEVELAND.
A Concise History Of the Can
didate Of the People.
An Authorized Biography of the
Coming President by q
Boston Journalist.
1 Glance at Interesting Facts Not Be-
fore Made Public.

s'Less than three years ago Grover Cleve-
land was called TO the service OF the people
in an executive capacity. He is now named
for the highest office in the gift of the nation.
Within these three years he has demonstrat-
ed a power and a capacity for administration
that place him clearly among the foremost
statesmen of our republic" These are the
significant facts with which Mr.. Frederick E.
Goodrich, the biographer of Gov. Cleveland,
opens the preface Of the work which is short
ly TO be issued by Mr.. Russell, the Cornhill
publisher. Mr.. Goodrich is the present clerk
of the city of Boston, but lifelong expert
ence in active journalism admirably quail
fed him for the work which ne has under
taken and accomplished with such rare dis
elimination and success. The book was
chiefly written at the home of Gov. Cleve-
land, and in its preparation the author was
greatly aided by the distinguished Governor
himself. The early chapters are, of course,
given up principally to cold biographical
facts, by which it appears that the candidate
was born in Caldwell, n. j., in March, 1887,
and that his ancestors lived at one time in
the Connecticut valley. His great-grand-
father died in the home of Benjamin Frank
lin in Philadelphia, and that great philoso-
pner wrote his obituary. Nothing seems to
have distinguished young Grover in his pin
afore days from other healthy and hearty
boys. His father was a clergyman, and all
Of lis nine children were reckoned as unus-
ual!y intelligent. The candidates first oc-
in trv
store. Something of the struggle which the
young man had in early life may be judged
from the fact that not until 1857, many
years after, was he able to pay loan Of 525.
In cancelIng the debt, he told his friend
That the sum was his first start in life, and
lie preserves the notewhich he gave as an in
tercsting reminder Of his benefactor's kind
ness.
ANECDOTES OF HIS YOUTH.
lie went to Buffalo as a poor boy in 1855,
and resided with Mr. Lewis F. Allen, who is
now living. "Grover was funny boy"
says Mr.. Allen. ''Hc had a great deal of
wit; was quick and lively. He was always
getting into scrapes." Apropos of this, the
old gentleman laughs heartily as he recounts
some Of those insignificant incidents which
occur in every boy's life. 81 have always
had q farm on Grand Island. | keep fifty
COWS there now and shall cut 100 tons of hay
this year. Grover used to go to the farm
with my boys, and they probably spent as
much time in fishing as they did in work
there. One day they pulled in big musco-
longc. You know what that is! 4 sort of
pike, only bigger. This one had a head as
large a calf's, and mouth that looked
very interesting. Grover wanted TO exam
inc it inside, and took stick to open the
mu-colonge's jaws But the fish was not
quite dead; the stick slipped and Growers
fingers were caught as if it had been a steel
trap. He squcaled wel for Ills finger was
about bitten of. The boys had to pry open
the fellows mouth 10 get Growers hand
irtc.
''pac day he was getting some points
anon. yoke Of steers ! had just bought
Letter rot touch them oXen,' i said to him !;
o'.t q" thought he knew more about them
tlsa J did. and he wanted TO find out still
:aare. We'll, they kicked him across the
stable. This wasn't what he wanted TO find
out, but he got that, too.'
1t was life comparatively without Incl
dent that Grover Cleveland passed in his
Dnclcs family; life filed with good. honest
work, with books and with farming, and also
with the country sports in which boy Of his
gears inds variety and relaxation. But, in
the mean time, he had in no way lost sight
Of the purpose which started him on his
wndcrngs through western New York, and
his determination TO make beginning in
his chosen profession OF the law and follow
il up To- success was as strong as ever. Very
soon after his admission TO the bar Mr..
Cleveland began To show the stuff that was
In him. For eight ycars-until he entered
public life as Il law officer of the govern
mcut-Groycr Cleveland remained In BuTa-
10 in the law Office of Rogers, Bowen &
Rogers.
MS EARLY CHARACTER.
All this time Mr.. Cleveland was establish
ing the character by which he is known in
the community. And he was doing this
slowly, if surely, for The reason that he en-
ploycd no fictitious means for securing popu-
larity. He even neglected the advantages
which society offered, and while hc lived by
no means the life of a rcclusc, yet he never
was an attendant at social gatherings. But
says one of his associates of those days
"Groycr won our admiration by his three
traits of indomitable INDUSTRY, uupretentious
courage and uuswcrviug honesty. | never
saw a more thorough man at anything be un
dcrtook Whatever the subject was, he wa:
retccut until hc had mastered all its bearing,
and made up his own miud-and then moth
iug could swerye him from his conviction
Ii was this quality of intellectual integrity,
more than anything else, perhaps, that made
him altcrward listened to and respected
when more brilliant men, who were opposed
10 him, were appauded and forgotten.n
This comment upon the character OF Grove
Ii -f.a IA. a
now respected 10y all the associates of hi
later years. Industry, courage and honest
are the traits that have marked the man from
the beginning of his career to this day. On
of the present partners in the law firm witt
which Young Cleveland studied, says:
at amuscs me 10 hear this talk about Mr.
Clcvcaud's lack Of ability. He Is the strong
rst character | ever knew without a nationa
reputation Ic is a fine lawyer, and, had h.
ever been ambitious g. make show, coul,
NJ any time have been q leader He is in
capable otwilful wrong, and nothing OF
earth could swervc him from his conviction
vf duty. His thorough honesty cannot b
questioned, and, without being what Nigh
be called brilliant man. he has always beel
regarded an able and safe one in every rela
tiou of life"
He NEVER SOUGHT An OFFICE.
II was while he was still at his desk, in th
Law office OF this firm, at the same time &C
cumulatiug such private practice as he could
that, in 1863, the question OF who should b
appointed assistant district attorney fer tn
county of Erie was discussed among III
young lawyers of Buffalo, several of WHOM
we're eligible for the Office, and quite desirou
ot obtaining the appointment. Clevelau
advanced no claims ior position. He ker
quietly at his office work. But the result c
the conferences and discussions of his youu
brother lawyers was that he was the perso
who nmght 40 have it, and he was strongl