River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1908-07-02
CIeveland's Early Struggles.

Grover Cleveland was born at Cald
1887. AS a country boy, he left home
when 16 years of age, charged not
only with the necessity of making his
own way in the world, but with the
responsibility of providing for his
mother and sisters. He fought the
battle sturdily and not only won, but
achieved the highest honors that can
| come to an American.
His father was a Presbyterian min
lister. The son was christened Steph-
en- Grover, in honor of Rev. Stephen
Grover, who had preceded Rev. Mr..
Cleveland in the pastorate Of the lit
tie church at Caldwell. In even the
earliest childhood of the boy, however,
| the parents omitted the name
| Stephen and addressed him always as
Grover. The son always signed his
name as Grover Cleveland.
! In 1841 the family removed to Fay
etteville, N. Y. They lived afterward
at Clinton and Holland Patent. Grover,
while he attended school, served in
! his spare hours as clerk in a country
store.
His father died in 1853 His money,
it was found, had been expended for
| the education of his children. 1t de-
volved upon Grover, then 16 years of
age, to qualify as a contributing mem
Der of his family. Through his broth
err, who was connected with the New
York institution for the blind, he Sc
cured appointment there as assistant
| teacher.
Attracted by Law Career.
Two years gave him enough of
teaching He was ambitious to be-
come a lawyer and to work in a field
that offered more advantages than
could be found in the east The city
of his choice was Cleveland, Ohio. All
of his spare earnings having been sent
to his mother, he required borrowed
capital to get his start in the world.
The amount of this capital was $50
and the friend who gave it to him was
an old man who had been a deacon
in his fathers church. The lenders
security was a note signed by the boy.
| That it was sufficient was proved two
years later when he received remit
| tance covering the amount of the loan
with interest.
Grover started in 1855 for Cleveland
| by way of the Erie canal He stopped
over for day at Buffalo to visit a
rich uncle, Lewis F. Allen. The lat
ter prevailed upon the youthful pill
grim to make his home in Buffalo. He
provided Grover with six weeks work
| at $40 week to assist in the compila-
ton of a herd book and secured for
him a place in the Office of promin-
ent law firm. AS law clerk he re-
ceived 81 a week.
| In 1859 Cleveland was admitted to
the bar. He remained in the service
| of the law firm as managing clerk, in
view of which dignity and honor his
| stipend was increased to SO week.
On January 1, 1868, he was appoint
ed assistant district attorney of Erie
| county. He allowed himself the bare
necessities of life. Every surplus dol
lar was sent to his mother and sisters.
At this time he was drafted for serv-
ice in the union army. He borrowed
/ money and sent substitute to the
war. Much was made of this fact
in the political campaigns of later
| days. Friends of Cleveland replied
| that his action was in accordance with
the custom of those days, when some
members of a family went to war,
while others remained to care for the
dependent ones. Two of Cleveland's
brothers were in the army.
Entrance Into Politics.
In 1866 Cleveland was nominated for
district attorney. He began the prac-