New-York tribune., 1886-05-02
THE PRESIDENTS BRIDE.
FRANK STATEMENT BY HER GRAND.
FATHER.
COLONEL FOLSOM AT HOME-fE TALKS FREELY
ABOUT TnE MARRIAGE-TuE FAMILY

oftolsomdale, a pretty little hamlet two miles from
here across the line in Wyoming County. had fur
nishcd money 10 buy the rousscau Of his grand
daughter Miss Frances Folsom, who it is
thought, will be married to President Cleveland in
June. correspondent of TIE TRIBUNE drove
over to Fos0mdale this afternoon to see Colonel
Folsom, and genial country gentle
man it would he hard to find among the
leading families of Western New York. The home
stead looks like an old-tmc tavern, with its half
dozen great wooden pillars in front supporting the
porch twas built years ago for that purpose, and
has been remodeled into one of the finest country
residences in this part of the State The drawing
room would do credit to any old Knickerbocker man
sion, ch are he urnlshn and so quaint some of
the ornamcntatlons. Colonel Folsom's portrait and
a fine crayon picture OF Oscar Folsom the father of
President Clcycand's fianccc conspicuous on
the walls and large photograph of Miss Folsom
herself, framed III red plush, ornaments n
carved ebony cabinet. In the room is a picture of
the home estcad. and photographs of half hundred
relatives are placed in advantageous positions.
There is fine picture Of President Cleveland, and
neal by are three photographs of Miss Folsom taken
al various periods of her youth.
Colonel Folsom is seventy live years old, and hav-
ing received several visitors to-day, felt fatgued
He is tall, wcll-built man. though bent
and slightly lame from the gout He wears a long
gray beard, and presents pariarchal appear
ance. His eyes sharp and blue, and he
has pleasant smile. Colonel Folsom said that he
had not much to say about the wedding of his
granddaughter that had not already been said ;
and anyway it was a matter which he did not like
to see discussed in print.
1t is true" sad Colonel Folsom, in the course of
conversation that frankie is to be married to
President Cleveland, She is one OF the most low
able girls you ever saw, and love her with all the
devotion possible. | have two other granddaugh-
ters but Frankie is the Oldest, and am very proud
of her. There is no doubt about the fact of the
marriage but the intention was to keep it secret
until she returned from Europe. where she went
partly on account of the rumor which was current
last summer when she visited Washington that she
wasllkey to wed the President. This was very an
noying her and her mother, for she was not even
engaged to be married to the President then. lt
made them very angry to have those terrible pict
ures printed in the paper. You can see for your
self by the photographs | have here whether they
look anything like Frankie
"When do you think the marriage will occuri"
"As to that, cannot be quoted as an authority
The only date have heard mentioned was Wedncs-
day June o. bat feel well satisfied that the plans
will all be chan ged on account Of this newspaper
talk The welding will take place IN the White
House would rather have il occur here. for could
not now stand the fatigue of aJOurney 10 Washing
ton: but that seems to be out of the question.
frankie wanted to have the wedding take place
in the White House and | would prefer
that she shonld nave her own way bout It,
do not know exactly when they became en-
gagged. Her mother tell you all about that
when she gets back frankie over twenty-one
years old when she was cnglg ged, and she and her
mother knew what they were doing. | am happy
about it and hope frankie will be happy
"You knew President Cleveland p
"To be sure did knew him well. Wasn't he
my Oscars law partners And before he went
INTO politics he used to ont here frequently.
lie would 20 ont in the orchard aud throw apes
and stones at marks with the children. Grover was
TOO heavy to be- good thrower anil the Others
would lay him out frequently. have seen him
only once or twice since he WI, elected Mayor and
Incver bothered him with talking about politics.
am a Democrat, and think Cleveland is the best
man ever IN the Presidential chair have a warm
regard for INN. and he will be Il welcome addition
to the family
There have been contradictory and perhaps an
moving reports as To the paymcnt of the travelling
expenses OF Mrs. and Miss folsom
think that 'John Folsom would let his grand
daughter 90 abroad at somebody else's expense
WHY, sir | sent her z check for Sl 900 IN my last
letter to her. and Tn prepared to send @ AL all the the
could get her trousseau as you call IT, IN Paris, or
anywhere else she wanted to. and gave her good
sum of money ihe only condition that imposed
was that she should get tine one, and expect to
send her more money to pay for It,
Colonel Folsom then talked further about the
financial condition of his son Oscars family, and
from what he said the inference would be drawn
that Oscar left his affairs in very tangled con-
dltion, and that not much was realized am
getting old said the Colonel, "and at least until
married she welcome draw
me for what money she wants. delight IN max
ing Others happy" lie expects to receive the next
will probably have received extracts from the
newspaper, commenting on the marriage
Some interesting particulars f.o abo4t the o,a6d ao
III the of further conversation
The grandfather belongs to historic family, which
is now pretty well distributed. His wife died IN
January, 1873. Two children followed her within
three weeks. Benjamin +. and Mary \. Oscar, the
remaining child. died July %. 1879, from. car
rage accident IN Buffalo. The GoloneIs family
four children, of whom the eldest Is Miss Emma
Folsom. Sine has another daughter aud two sons
Mrs. B. +. Folsom, handsome woman of forty
three is the mistress of the household Miss Emma
is tweht y-onc very pretty. looks like her cousln
Miss Frances and is a possible bridesmaid at the
wedding at the White house. she Is the =. oniy y,
member OF the household who now intends to be
present.
Ihe Folsom family 50 the records show, came
from England 10 America in l63S and were among
the first settlers of the town of bingham, Mass
Among those who were distinguished IN military
and public affairs was General Nathaniel Folsom,
brIc adler III the Colonial Army. and subsequently
maior-ganeral in the Revolutionary Army. His
brother. Lieutenant Jonathan Folsom, had charge
of a mortar in the battle OF Bunker liill. although
ten years before he had lost IA leg ana received
other iuiurie, in n fight with hostile Indians. Asa
Folsom great grandfather of Miss Frances, came
10 Wyoming County from Orange County,
John e. Folsom was born in the
town of Middlebury on January %, 1911. Asa
went on an expedition to the Northwest to war
against the Indians and died two years later, HIS
widow removed to Attica, where she lived with
her family until 1929. A few. wears after that
John B. went to Folsomdalc, which lie settled and
of which he was the first postmaster. Johns early
life was a hard struggle against poverty ana ad-
yersty, but through perseverance,, thrlit ana IN
tegrity he succeeded in accumuatlng fortune Oh
nearly half \ million dollars Colonel Folsom has
represented ais town in the Board of Supervisors
and has been a Justice of the Peace for
more terms than he can remember lie