Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1912-10-30
MRS. CLEVELAND
TO BECOME BRIDE
OF PROF. PRESTON
Engagement Is An
nounced by Presi-
dent Hibben.
BRIDEGROOM FORMERLY IN
OIL BUSINESS IN THIS CITY
Gave Up Mercantile Pursuit to
Continue Studies-NoW
at Wells College.

ammo OF lne eDbdSeHlelll
| of Mrs. Grover Cleveland to Profes.
sor Thomas j. Preston, ir., of Soutl
| Orange. was made last night by
President Hibben. of Princeton Uni.
versity. a mutual friend of Mrs
Cleveland and Professor Preston. Nc
date has been announced for tht
wedding.
Professor Preston who first met
Mrs Cleveland at Princeton, where
he was taking a special course In
1906, is professor of archaeology and
history of arts at Wells College,
Aurora. n. Y. He was formerly in
the oil business in Newark and
amassed a large fortune through sue
cessful business enterprise.
When nearing the age of 40 Pro-
fessor Preston gave up his business
career to resume his study and con-
tinue his career in the field of educa-
tion.
He was graduated at Princeton in
1906, where he had been a tower OF
strength and influence, On account
of the wide range and unusual ex-
cellence of his work, both in graduate
and undergraduate studies, he took
at the same commencement the de-
grees of Lift. B. and M. A. He Is a
member of the Key and Seal Upper
Class Club, and Phi Beta Kappa So
ciety.
Professor Preston is now so years
old and Mrs. Cleveland is 40, although
she looks much younger. She was
born in Buffalo, and her maiden name
was Frances Folsom. Her father,
Oscar Folsom, was a law partner OF
Grover Cleveland.
Soon after Mr.. Cleveland entered
the White House his engagement was
June 2, 1886 Mrs Cleveland was
known as the White House Bride"
Esther. their second child, was born
in the White House on September 16.
1893, the first child to be born in a
Presidents family while he was in
office.
Ruth Cleveland, who died at Prince
ton in 1904. was the first-born. Other
children born to Mr.. and Mrs. Cleve-
land now living are; Marion. born
July I. 1896; Richard, born October
2S, 1897; Francis Grover, born July
II, 1903.
Professor Preston lives with his
father and mother, Mr. and Mrs,
Thomas j. Preston. sr.. of 151 Irving
avenue. South Orange. Professor
Preston is brother-in-law of John
J. Hoppin, a Newark lawyer, and OF
Mrs. Florence Preston-Jones.
Some interesting things concerning
Professor Preston We're told by Pres
ident Hibben when he made the am
nouncement of the engagement. with
the authority of Mrs. Cleveland
He said;
"Professor Preston is 80 years old.
He is a graduate of Princeton, and
one whom we hold in very high es-
TEEN. As young man he began his
university study at Columbia, which,
however, was interrupted on account
of illness. At that time he gave up
the idea of completing his education
and went into business, in which ne
made a very rapid and notable sue
cess
'He established himself at the
head of a profitable manufacturing
company in Newark, N. j. After
securing a substantial fortune and
feeling that continued success could
not compensate for his abandoning
a college career he determineh to
attain the long desired end which his
earlier years had denied,
although nearing the age of 40,
nevertheless he closed his active
business career and went abroad to
study for two years at the Sorbonne,
Paris.
Returning to America he came to
Princeton for two more years of ad-
ditional study. On account of the
wide range and unusual excellence of
his work both in undergraduate and
graduate studies he took at the same
not only the degree
of bachelor of letters but the degree
of master Of arts as well. a unique
attainment. He was elected at that
time to the Princeton chapter of the
Phi Beta Kappa Society,
HE was subsequently appointed
fellow of the. American School of
Classical Study at Rome. and later
won in competition open to all the
of the United States the
Of the Archaeological In
stitute OF America. After pursuing
his studies abroad he returned to
and took his degree of
doctor of philosophy. He was then
called to his present professorship at
Wells College. His parents, Mr.. and
Mrs. Thomas j Preston, sr., live In
South Orange"