The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1884-07-24
Sketch of the Nominees.

The present governor of the Empire
State is a native of New Jersey, born at
Caldwell, Essex county, March Is, 1887.
His father was a minister, and the gov
ernor has living relatives prominent among
the Protestant clergy, not to speak of his
numerous clerical ancestors. After re-
ceiying such instruction as was procurable
from common schools in the various places
of his fathers residence, young Cleveland
was sent to the academy, near Clinton,
Oneida county, New York. Upon leaving
this seat Of learning he went to New York
city. where he filled for some time the po-
sition of clerk in an institution of charity.
He is next heard of aking his way West
in company with an enterprising young
man. with Cleveland, Ohio, as his objective
point; but visiting. while on his way, an
uncle residing at Buffalo, he was induced
to remain in that city as clerk in the store
Of his relative. He was eighteen years OF
age at the time, an ambitious young fellow
possessed OF the earnest desire to become
successful lawyer. His uncle favored this
aspiration, and we find the youth a clerk
in the office of prominent law firm, and
at the same time enjoying the comforts of
a good home at his relatives house. He
was admitted to the bar IN 1853. His first
public office was as assistant district attor
ney for the county of Erie under G. 9. Tor
rance. He held the position three years,
until the end of his superior's term OF Of
flee, whenhe was nominated for district at
torney on the Democrat ticket, but was de-
feated. In 1870, five years after this failure
he was elected sheriff of Erie county, and
in November 1881, was elected Mayor of
Buffalo by a decisive majority. His iEcnm-
bency of the office was successful and pop
ular. Mr.. Cleveland is bachelor. and like
General Hancock, his predecessor in the
presidential race, weighs $50 pounds.
In the fall election of 1882 Mr. Cleveland
was elected governor of his state, on IL
Democratic nomination, by tidal wave
majority over his competitor, the Hon.
Charles J. Folger. Although elected over
Folger by majority of 100000, Cleveland
received only 800 votes more than Hancock
did when Garfield beat Hancock q 1000.
His term expires January LIST, 1887.
1t is curious coincidence that Cover
nor Cleveland, like President Garfield and
ex-senator Blaine, was school teacher
when young man, and the resemblance
of his career to that of Mr.. Blaine is still
more singular by the fact that both were
teachers in blind institutions.
THE NOMINEE FOR VICE PRESIDENT.
Thomas A Hendricks was born in Musk
ing UNI county, Ohio, in 1919, and educated
at South Hanover College, graduating in
1S41 He studied law at Chambersburg,
Pa, and settled in Indiana, where he prac-
ticed his profe ssion with success. In 1848
The was chosen to the state legislature,
and declining election he was an active
member of the Indiana Constitutional
Convention of 1850. From 1851 to 1856 he
represented the Indianapolis district in
Congress, and in the latter year he was APP
pointed commissioner of General Land
Office by President Pierce and contin-
ued under President Buchanan until 1859,
when he resigned. From 1868 to 1869 he
served in the United States Senate, and
was considered the leader Of the Demo-
cratic party in that body. In the Democratic
National Convention, held in New York in
1868, he was strongly supported for the
nomination to the presidency. AS candi-
date for governor of Indiana he was de-
feated in 1868, but elected for term ending
January !, 1878. In 1876 he was nominated
for vice President on the ticket with Samuel
J. Tilden by the Democratic National
Convention.