|
 |
Frances
Folsom Cleveland
Date of Birth: July 21, 1864
Date of Death: Oct 29, 1947
Age at death: 83
Married: June 2, 1886 Grover Cleveland
Children: 5 |
 |
- Frances was eleven years old when
her father, Oscar Folsom, was killed in a carriage accident
- Folsom willed custody of his estate
to his law partner, Grover Cleveland, who provided for his widow
and her daughter Frances
- About one year before becoming president
he asked for permission to see Frances socially, and after entering
office they were wed, June 2, 1886
- He, at 47, and she 21, were the only
presidential couple to marry at a ceremony in the White House
- Frances is the youngest woman to be
First Lady
- Their daughter Esther, born during
the second term, is the only child of a president born in the
White House
- Frank or Frankie as the president
called her developed a form letter to answer fan mail
- She regularly volunteeed her time
for charities that gathered donations of food and clothing for
poor and underprivileged families
- The Cleveland's first child, Ruth,
was born between the two terms of office
- Ruth received the most publicity of
any child to date, whereupon the Nestle Candy Company named their
new candy bar, Baby Ruth, in her honor
- After Cleveland lost the election
to Harrison in 1888, Frances called the White House staff together
and told them to keep everything "as is" for they would
return in four years
- Her husband was reelected in 1892
|
|
|