Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1885-05-28
THE NORTHWEST
Cleveland as a Boy.


De Witt G.. Sprague, says Washing
Ion correspondent, is welf known In
New York. He read the poem at the
last reunion of the Army of the Poto
mac at Baltimore. He is at present
one Of the officials in the fourth audi
tors Office. He was formerly lawyer
m New York, bnt i'll health compelled
him to give up his practice. He was q
consul in Italy during the greater part
of Grants time. He was born and
brought up in Fayetteville, where
Grover Cleveland lived for a number
of years when he was boy. Mr.
Sprague is still young, active-looking
man. He recalls number of interest.
ing incidents i'm the earlier career OF
President Cleveland. The formers
family were neighbOrs and friends OF
the Clevelands. The presidents father
was very rigid Presbyterian clergy
man and all abolitiOnist of the extreme
type. He never lost an opportunity to
denounce slavery. Cleveland's family
were all republicans. His brother-in-
law, Mr.. Hoyt, is one of the strongest
of republicans in central New York.
Cleveland himself never took much
interest in politics when he was a
young man. Mr.. Sprague says that he
can not remember his ever saying any,
thing about it when he was in Fayette-
vile. It was not until he went to
Buffalo that he took the side of any
political party. He has never been at
any times partisan. His family and
all OF his relatives have always been
"What kind of boy was Cleveland
at SCHOOL," 1 asked Mr.. Sprague.
"He was very dull boy. He never
was much Of fellow for books. He
was q chubby, good-natured fellow. He
was very fond in the winter time of
drawing the girls of the school around
on sleds. Why, l can remember him
now justas well as can be, running with
my sister on his red sled through the
snow. His round, fresh face fairly
lighted up with radiant good-nature. !"
"Was he fighter in those days?"
mo, he was not. You couldn't get
him into a fight. He was the most
peaceful fellow ever saw. He would
do anything in the world to keep out
Of q row. Those who knew him as a
boy were very much surprised to see
him develop so much backbone when
he became governor. He used to be so
easy and yielding that anyone could do
what he pleased with him.
Mr.. Sprague continued: "Even in
those days he showed great taste for
business. Although he was considered
very dull at the school he was one of
the hardest workers in it. He was
never very found of play. He seemed
DO take more pleasure in work. All of
rs boys thought that he was cut out for
u merchant. Cleveland used to come
ever to our house a great deal. My
mother used to call him Grove Cleve-
land. She still calls him that. Cleve-
land used to. be very fond of coming
ever to our house about breakfast time.
My mother was great hand for buck
wheat cakes in the morning. Cleve-
land would come in and take seat,
and then cast a wistful eye upon the
pancakes. Then my mother would say:
"Grove, won't you have some of the
cakes? Do sit up.n And, although
he had previously breakfasted at home,
he would eat nearly his weight in
wheat cakes in response to her invita-
tion.r
The president when he left school in
Fayetteville entered the store of Beach
G. Beard. Beard was the leading mer-
chant of the place. He was the great
capitalist of Pompey Hill. He moved
everto Fayetteville to find larger field
for his energies. His daughter Carrie
married John o. Evans the late presi-
dent of the Mutual Telegraph COM
pany. Mr.. Evans was largely inter-
ested in Washington property and left
very handsome estate here. His
widow resides here now. She is fire.
qucnt caller at the White House, now
occupied by her fathers former
clerk. Mr.. Beard himself was here the
ether day and had very pleasant visit
with the President. Mr.. Beard is a
very fine looking old gentleman, who
has always voted the Republican ticket
until last fall. He could not vote for
Mr.. Blaine and so voted for Mr.. Cleve-
land. The President always shows
great pleasure when he meets any of his
old Fayetteville friends. Mr.. Sprague
called al the White House soon after in
auguration and found that they all re-
membered him. The President gave
him and his wife hearty invitation to
family dinner at the White House.
Mr.. Sprague's account of the Presi-
dent being a dull boy finds plenty of
parallels in the history of other promi-
nent men. Sir Walter Scott was re-
garded as one of the most stupid of
boys at school. The Duke of Yelling
SOn was dullard in his youth; while
Goldsmith, when boy, was considered
not more than half-witted. The Presi-
dent has surprised the politicians about
him, even more than his old-time
friends, with the development of his
powers as an executive. He is anxious
TO make good administration, and be-
lieves that he will be renominated in
the event of his giving satisfactory ad-
ministratiOn to the people.