Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1886-05-20
THE PRESIDENTS FIANCE.
Her History AS a Schoolgirl in st. Paul What
Her Old Teacher Saws.

Her History As a Schoolgirl in ST. Paul What
Her Old Teacher SAYS.
st. Paul lays claim to have once been
the residence of Miss frankie Folsom, the
alleged brideelect of Grover Cleveland,
President of the United States, many
years ago, when grover was Buffalo law
Ter and the maiden fair girl IN her teens.
Strange is it that in all the articles that
have appeared in the daily press for weeks
past, the st. Paul friends of Miss Folsom
have not recognized in the description of
her the girl who ten years ago played with
other children around the beauties of r.
vine Park, or walked demurely with them
to the famous private school they located
at the corner of Fifth and Franklin
streets, but now out of existence. For a
number of years long ago this private
school for young ladies was conducted by
two sisters, the Misses Wheaton. They
were both cultivated, educated ladies, held
high position in the society of the day
and conducted a school for young girls
that had no rival in the Northwest The
attendance at the School was large and
the majority of young society ladies in
st. Paul, to-day received there early ira
ing in that institution. 1t was in 1876
that the family of Captain Huddlertan,
residing on Exchange streets, received as
guests from Buffalo and New York Mrs.
Folsom and daughter, frankie, aged
nearly Ia. 1t was announced at once that
Mrs. Folsom was a half sister of Mrs.
Huddleston, and that she and her daugh-
ter expected to spend at least year in
st. Paul. Captain HuddIeston had a
daughter Minnie, who was about the age
of frankie Folsom.
Miss Folsom was at once sent to the
Wheaton school. Her stay in st. Paul was
peremptorily cut short, though, at the
end of three or four months, when, owing
to some family trouble, the nature of
which is unknown she and her mother
suddenly returned to New York. The
HuddlestOn afterwards left st. Paul and
never returned. While in st. Paul Mrs.
Folsom was dressed in deep mourning for
her husband, who had recently been killed
by an accident. Miss frankie wore half
mourning. While here the young girl, be-
yond assOciating with those who were her
age, did not enter society. Ladies who
remember her mother speak very highly
of her beauty and culture. Frankie'S old
school teacher is still Il resident of st.
Paul, but married, and the mother of three
bright children. Of her former pupil she
says: IT remember Miss Folsom well.
Her Singular beauty and youth, the pre-
cOciOusness of her mind and ner refined
manners, marked her at once as a more
than ordinary child. She conducted her
self with perfect decOrum, but still was
not conventional child, enjoying herself
as other children did. She gave every
indication of becoming the cultivated wo-
man that she is now said to be-"
Nearly all of the old residents of Irving
Park remember Miss Folsom as she was,
and speak of her in about the same high
terms, noting her beauty and intellectually
and the promises of her becoming a
brilliant woman. She was only a charm
ing school girl here and as such is remem-
bered. The private school is out of exis-
tence, one of its instructors has passed in
TO eternity, the other is a happy matrOn
and the school: girls have developed into
the bellies of the Capital City. They all,
when seen yesterday joined in the kindest
wishes for the fair fortune of their old
schoolmate, and seemed to think that
lucky President Cleveland was none too
good for the girl he had won.