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Frances Folsom Cleveland |
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| Index for First Ladies Martha Washington |
Frances Folsom was born in Buffalo, New York on July 21, 1864.
She was introduced to Grover Cleveland soon after her birth. Grover was her father's law partner. He gave the Folsom's a baby carriage as a present for Frances. When her father died, Grover helped the family with the business of his estate. Grover asked Frances' mother permission to write to her when she was attending college at Well's College. After she graduated from college he proposed to her. They were married in the White House on June 2, 1886. It was the first wedding of a President to take place in the White House. She was the youngest First Lady ever. She was 21 when she married President Cleveland. She was extremely popular as First Lady. Cleveland lost the election of 1888, but was re-elected in 1892. His campaign posters and other materials featured a picture of Frances. Some people claim that she won the election for him. They had five children. Ruth Esther was the first child to be born to a President in the White House. In 1904, their daughter Ruthie died of diphtheria. She was 12. This was extremely upsetting to the Clevelands. On June 24, 1908, Cleveland died of a heart attack. Five years later Frances re-married. She married Thomas J. Preston Jr. a professor at Princeton. Frances died in her sleep when she was 83. She died on October 29, 1947. She is buried next to President Cleveland in Princeton.
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