The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1908-07-02
Biographical.

When Une pastor OF the presbyterian
church in the little town Of Caldwell,
N. j., in 1887, bestowed upon one Of his
babies the name of the Rev. Stephen
Grover, a predecessor in the same pull
pit, he probably entertained not the
remotest dream that the boy would
grow up to discard his first name and
become known in world history as
Grover Cleveland, twice president of
the United States, and for the remainder
of his life, "the most distinguished pri-
vate citizen in the world"
The Rev. Stephen f. Cleveland and
his wife, who was Ann Neal, daughter
of Baltimore merchant, had a large
family of children. Three years after
Grover was born the family migrated,
as preachers families are won't to do.
Parson Cleveland became pastor at
N. Y. The father died when Grover was
was then and until the widow Cleveland
died in 1882, at Holland Patent, N. Y.
Grover Cleveland attended academies
at Fayetteville and Clinton. He had
an early ambition to 80 through Prince
tor college, but .acka 5l..s i:s.ss..es. n:
became clerk and later assistant teach
er in the New York York institution
for the blind, New York City. Fanny
Crosby, the celebrated blind hymn
writer was teacher in the same school.
She and Grover became warm friends.
In her "reminiscences Miss Crosby
writes:
He seemed a very gentle but intense
ly ambitious boy. Among very pleas
ant characteristics which / noticed in
him was disposition to help others
whenever possible. Knowing that it
was great favor to me to have my
poems copied neatly and legibly, he
offered to perform that service for me,
and ! several times availed myself of
his aid.
One day the principal of the school
upbraided the blind woman for using
the clerks time in that way. Grover
told Miss Crosby that she had per-
feet right to employ him in that capac-
ity, inasmuch as her poems were used
in the school and also helped to make
the institution better known. He ad-
vised her to give the principal some
"plain prose- the next time he should
reproach her. When the official re-
monstrated secol,d time, Miss Crosby
stood for her rights and won the battle
When Cleveland was about eighteen
years old, he paid visit to an uncle
living in Buffalo. The uncle induced
the boy to remain and help him in com
piling the american Herd Book
Grover assisted in several editions OF
this work, studied law and was ad-
mitted to the bar at the age of twenty.
two. His first official position was that
of assistant district attorney, which he
held for three years during the civil
war. Two of his brothers we're in the
army. Grover WAS helping to support
his mother and sisters. His salary wa.
small. When he was drafted to mill
tary service, his hired substitute ant
remained at work. Later he was g
candidate for the district attorneyship
but was defeated. Then he settled
down to law practice. In 1870 he wal
induced to run for sheriff and wa!
elected, serving for three years.
After another interval of private citi
zenship, assiduously devoted to his pro
fession, this bachelor lawyer of fort!
years was nominated for mayor of Buf
falo on the democratic ticket in 1881
He had become known as careful
hard-working, but not brilliant lawyer
He had no pyrotechnic, ornamental side
He simply attended to business. Thoug
the republican state ticket carrie
Buffalo by more than 1000 votes, Cleve
land was elected mayor by majority c
$3.50. EARLY in his term he becam
known as "the veto mayor" He vetoe
many extravagant appropriation bill
and saved his city at least 81 100000.
The state of New York soon hear
much of this veto mayor. He had bee
in Office less than year when tn
democrats nominated him for governo
New York had not elected democrati
governor since before the civil wal
The republicans nominated Charles ,
Folger, secretary Of the treasury i
President Arthur's cabinet. Mr.. Folge
was regarded as particularly stron
candidate, yet Cleveland was electe
governor by plurality Of 192854 owe
Folger and by clear majority of 157
742, over all the candidates. Just afte
he voted on election day, he wrote
his brother, the Rev. William Clev'
land: