Area 6

Grover Cleveland and Oscar Folsom were both Buffalo lawyers and law partners. Upon the untimely death of Oscar Folsom in July, 1875, his young daughter Frances departed the Queen City to live in Medina with her grandmother, Mrs. Ruth Harmon. Frances lived at 300 North Main Street in the village, attending the Medina Academy for a period of time. And it was also there that Cleveland often visited Frances, or Frankie as she was known, during her stay in Medina. Cleveland was her legal guardian. According to localhistories [sic], there was a friendship between Cleveland, the Folsoms and the Bent family of Medina. On one occasion that he visited to call upon Frankie, the Bents offered their carriage to Cleveland so that he might ride to the depot and catch a train back to Buffalo. As the story goes, the carriage and driver were observed by Constable Edmund Fuller, who recognized the carriage as belonging to Bent, but most certainly did not recognize the driver. Cleveland had an impossible time attempting to convince the good constable of his innocence. He eventually prevailed when he convinced Fuller to take him to the railroad station where the ticket agent assured him that Cleveland was indeed who he said he was, and the entire episode was a terrible mistake. Grover Cleveland did eventually make the train to Buffalo and continued to call upon Miss Folsom. The story of his incarceration is one of Medina's most enduring local legends. Frances Folsom: Medina's First Lady. Frances eventually returned to Buffalo where she continued her education, later entering Wells College. Cleveland later married Frances Folsom in 1886 when he became President of the United States in a White House gala - the only President to marry while serving in office. Local histories of historian Ceil White record that Frances Folsom Cleveland corresponded with Mrs. Algernon Shattuck of Medina in 1906, saying that she would regrettably be unable to return to Medina for Old Home Week that summer. She and Grover were moving to their summer hime in Tamworth, NH with the children. Frances commented on the many changes that had likely occurred since she departed Medina, and that she desired very much to return. Whether she did or not is unknown. Perhaps Grover had grown somewhat less fond of the old village than she... Frances "Frankie" Folsom attended the Medina Academy for a time. The Cleveland family, Tamworth, NH, 1907. Frances lived at 300 North Main Street in Medina with her grandmother Ruth Harmon. This sign generously sponsored by Rita Zambito - Zambito Realty. Interpretive prints and mounting courtesy of The Print Shop · Medina, NY 585-590-9035 · Designed by Chris Busch, ORG.

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Show me all markers in:  Medina, NY  |  Orleans County  |  14103  |  New York  |  United States of America

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Earliest Church

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