Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1908-06-27
Mr.. and Mrs. William Chassell,
Iowa Falls, Personal Friends
OF Cleveland
INCIDENTS OF HIS EARLY LIFE
Mr.. chasseII, in Interview Tells of the
Elder cIeveland's Death, Leaving
Widow and Children Destitute, and
of How Young Cleveland Came to
lmbibs Democratic Doctrines.
Special to Times-Repupl,can.

opSCldl " Au0Ds8S0pu1hSAlAs
Iowa Falls, June 27-To the home
of William Chassell in this city, the
news of the death of ex-President Gro
yer Cleveland came with particular
sadness, for since childhood they had
known Mr.. Cleveland we'll. 1t was
back in Holland Patent. little New
York town, that Hobart Hall was To-
Gated, where Mr.. cleveland and Fran
ces Jones, who later became Mrs.
Chassell, attended school as children.
Mr.. Chassell lived at Newport, a few
miles away, and he, too. knew the
Cleveland family well. His sister
taught in the academy where Cleve
land received his first schooling. In
speaking Of the passing of the old
family friend, Mr.. Chassell said: We
we'll recall the sudden demise of the
elder Cleveland" speaking OF the pres
ident's father. "for it was while in the
pulpit of the church in Holland Pat
CIlb " WHICH ZIG ll<1u OCcA ISSCILNis
called, that Mr.. Cleveland was strick-
en-. A minister on a meagre salary,
with wife and nine small children
to support, his death removed the
mainstay, and the family was left in
sad circumstances. None of the chill
dren were then old enough to contrib
ute to the support of the family, and
the widow was left with a big task on
her hands. But she was q remarka
BILE woman" continued Mr.. Chassell,
land to her thorough tact, energy and
management should be given the credit
for rearing and educating this large
family. 1 well remember how the peo-
pie of Holland Patent sympathized
with the widow and the children, and
how the churches of the town, irrespec-
tive of denomination, rallied to the
raising of fund for a home for the
family. 1t was at a surprise party that
Mrs. Cleveland was given the first in
timation of what her friends had done,
for 1t was then that deed to the
home was presented to her. Her
friends and neighbors had raised ST.
200.
Grover. who was the eldest boy,
was enabled to continue his studies,
and a year or so later his uncle in Buff
falo summoned him to his law office
This uncle was a democrat, and then
it was that young Grover tmbibed the
democratic doctrine and became the
only follower of that faith In the
family. The eX-president often Wis
tied at our home, and we all admired
his strength of character and his
marked ability, even as young man,
altho we little dreamed then that he
would, in years to come, be called up
on to fill the highest office in the gift
of the American people. Mr.. Cleve-
land possessed the remarkable faculty
Of never forgetting the face of per-
son he once met This was particular
3ly we'll illustrated when Cleveland was
governor Of New York, and Mrs. Chas-
sell returned to her old New York
home for visit. While in Albany she
thought she would call on her school
mate of years ago, and see if he had
forgotten her. Entering his Office, she
approached the governor and remarked:
I presume this is Grover Cleveland
The governor graciously replied. Yes,
that's what they call me- WELL con-
tinued Mrs. Chassell, I guess you don't
remember me- Scrutinizing her face
closely, he replied, Yes, do; it's Mrs.
Chassen from Iowa, who was formerly
Frances JONES' They then enjoyed a
short visit, in which they recounted
many incidents Of their school days in
Holland Patent"