New-York tribune., 1908-06-25
MR. CLETELAND'S CAREER.

Grover Cleveland the twenty-second and tn,
twenty fourth President of this country, and afte
| the death Of ex-President Harrison the onfy living
ex-President for period of years. His frs
term was 1sS5-'ss. when President Harrison sue
ceeded him. and his second. 1Sa3-s7, when his sue
cessor was President Mckinley. He born al
Caldwell. Essex County, N J.. on March Is, 1881
On the paternal side he of English origin
Moses Cleveland came from Ipswich England. to
Woburn. Mass. in 1886 His grandson Aaron
whose son, Aaron. prominent Presbyterian min
lister of his day. the great great grandfather
Of Grover Cleveland The Rev. Aaron Cleveand's
grandson, William, was a silversmith and watch
maker at Norwich Conn Williams second son.
Richard Falley Cleveland, graduated from Yale
in 1924 and in 1929 entered the Presbyterian ministry
In the latter year he married Miss Anne Neal, the
daughter Of Baltimore publisher and merchant of
Irish birth. These two the parents OF Grover
Cleveland and eight other children. The parsonage
in which Grover Cleveland was born was first oc-
cupied by the Rev. Stephen Grover, in whose honor
the boy named Stephen Grover; but the first
was early dropped.
When Grover Cleveland four years old his
father removed Fayetteville, N Y, Syracuse
There he attended school until 1s49 In that year he
admitted to membership in the Presbyterian
Church. For about year he served as a clerk in
country store in the village. spending his nights in
study In 1851 the family removed to Clinton, N y
and Mr. Cleveland continued his preparation for en-
tering college As he too young to enter college
his father thought he ought to from study, and
he returned to the country store at Fayetteville In
1883 the family removed to Holland Patent near
Utica, where the father died within month This
made a radical change in Grover Cleveand's plans,
for the family had be provided for and younger
members educated. For a year he was employed in
the Institution for the Blind in this city. where his
brother William instructor. Believing that
better opportunities could be found in the West. he
borrowed s25 from Ingham Townsend. of Floyd.
Oneida County, and started upon his search for
work None was found in Utica Syracuse. and he
resolved to go to Cleveland. At Buffalo he
stopped to visit his uncle, Lewis F. Allen farmer,
living at Black Rock Learning that the young
mans ambition to be lawyer, but that the
necessities of the family had compelled him to look
for work that would bring immediate remuneration,
Mr.. Allen induced his nephew to remain and assist
him in the compilation of his American Shorthorn
Herd Book" Mr.. Cleveland afterward assisted in
preparing several other volumes OF this work In
August 1856. he entered the law office OF Rogers,
Bowen & Rogers in Buffalo, and at the end OF four
years he admitted TO the bar; but for three
years he remained with the firm as managing clerk
Two Of Mr. Cleveland's brothers served in the army
through the war Mr.. Cleveland was the first man
drafted in Buffalo, but he provided substitute
HIS FIRST POLITICAL OFFICE.
Mr. Cleveland appointed Assistant District
Attorney of Erie County January l. 1868. and
he hold -he office for three years much Of the work
of the office falling upon his shoulders He was the
Democratic candidate for District Attorney IN 1850
but he was defeated by Lyman K Bass (Rep)-
In 1866 Mr.. Cleveland formed a partnership with
J. X Vanderpool, which lasted until 1859 He then
associated himself with A P Lanins ana oscar
Folsom the father of Mrs. Cleveland. In 1870 Mr.
Cleveland was elected Sheriff of Erie County At
the end of his three years term he formed a law
partnership with Lyman X Bass and wilson .
Bissell Mr. Bass was soon afterward compelled to
go To Colorado for his health. and the firm became
Cleveland Bssel. to which partnership george d
Sicard was subsequently admitted.
In 1880 politics in Buffalo became considerably
mixed There was much dissatisfaction in the Re
publican party and there was a spirit OF revolt
against the old managers Of party affairs. while the
Democrats worked for all they were worth the
few local offices under their control In the follow
ing year there a cry of reform, and Mr.
Cleveland elected Mayor Of the city by COM
bination Of Democrats and Republicans The Re
publfcans carried Buffalo the state ticket by an
average plurality of 1,60o but Mr. Cleveland
was elected by $3.50 majority. The city government
had been corrupt, and by vetoing extravagant ap-
propriations Mr.. Cleveland became known as
the veto Mayor" The general course OF his ad- |
ninistration won the approval of the people and +
the press
BECOMES GOVERNOR OF NEW YORK.
on the second day of the Democratic State
Convention at Syracuse In 1852 Mr. Cleveland was !
nominated on the third ballot for Governor. re-
ceiving 2l1 votes out Of 3S2. The Republican nom
NEE was Charles J. FoIger, then Secretary OF
election In November of the |
markable in the annals Of New York. Mr.. Folger
lad honorably filed high state and federal offices.
and there was no opposition 10 him personally !
among Republicans, but there widespread dis
"a tisfaction in party because of belief that
his nomination accomplished by improper |
practices in the convention and the interference
# the federal administration. The Democrats
we're united The result the election of Mr..
-leveland as Governor by a majority the phe-
lonlenaI proportions Of which indicated his
ersonal strength the strength of his party but
merely the extent TO which Republican
tayed at home and 10 instances voted the
democratic ticket TO rebuke certain phases OF par
y management out Of a total vote of 9lS,s94
or Governor Mr.. Cleveland received plurality Of
90 s54 over Judge Folger and a majority Of
II 742 At the same election David B. Hill
eived a plurality of 1876 ISL for Leutenant-Cov-
rnor Entering office s Governor at the begin !
ting Of 1888 MIR. Cleveland served until January !
1855 when he resigned. and ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
an succeeded him OF his appointments office
lie actions in regard legislation, etc. met
with general approval and some with widespread
isfayar He vetoed the scent fare bil which
rovided for a reduction of the fare the ele-
ated railroads IN this city for all hours
nd for this he was censurad by the labor leaders.
IL signed the bin taking away from the New
-ork aldermen the power TO control the Mayors
,,,. n,ents ard thus aiienated the affections of
'ammany Han
Mr. cleveland was of the first advo-
ate nuhliclv Civil Service reform by the adoption
the merit system. and he in
r7ce than he took steps put his ideas into prac-
% He recommended in his first annual message
,ha legislature that a State Civil Service Com
tssion be created. the competitive system ex-
naed 10 AL incorporated S!tiss and the political