President Stephen Grover Cleveland UNITED STATES

   General Notes:

Mayor of BUFFALO 1881-82, Governor of NEW YORK (1883-84), President of UNITED STATES 1885-89, 1893-97.

3rd Cousin of Henry K BARBER, 3rd Cousin 4 Times Removed of Clifford G ANDREW.

BOOK
FAMILY RECORDS of the Descendants of GERSHOM FLAGG [Born 1730] of Lancaster Massahusettes (sic) with Other Genealogical Records of THE FLAGG FAMILY Descended from THOMAS FLEGG OF WATERTOWN MASS and Including THE FLEGG LINEAGE IN ENGLAND Compiled and Published by Norman Gersom Flagg and Lucius C S Flagg 1907
Chapter V pg 97:
Gershom Flagg, Son of Gerhom Flagg of Lancaster Mass and His Descendants 1758-1906
[Editha's] sister, Margaret Hitchcock b 25 May 1741 m Richard Falley, a soldier in the Revolutionary War, and had issue Margaret Falley b 15 Nov 1776 who m William cleveland and had issue Richard Falley Cleveland b 19 Jun 1805 who m Anne Neal and had issue Stephen Grover Cleveland b 18 Mar 1837 who was President of the United States.

Encyclopaedia Britannica Micropaedia 1981 Chicago Vol II pg 994:
"Cleveland, (Stephen) Grover (b 18 Mar 1837, Caldwell NJ- d 24 Jun 1908 Princeton NJ), libereal Democratic leader who became the only US President to serve two nonconsecutive terms (1885-89, 1893-97). As a lawyer in western New York, he emerged in a period ripe for reform, after years of graft and corruption in local and national politics largely dominated by the Republican Party, Cleveland's adherence to honesty in public life made him the perfect choice as a Democratic reform candidate. His stock skyrocketed as the successful mayor of Buffalo (1881-82) and governor of New York (1883-84).
"Out of power nationally for 23 years, the Democrats in 1884 seized upon this relative political newcomer to nominate for the presidency. Despite opposition from Tammany Hall (the New York City Democratic organization), Cleveland was elected by a close popular vote but a comfortable electoral margin over his Republican opponent, James G Blaine. During his first administration, he implemented the provisions of the Pendleton Civil Service Act (1883), removing almost 12,000 federeal jobs from political influence. Party bosses were alienated by his use of the veto power to block private pension bill and also by his opposition to high protective tariff that was producing a treasury surplus. Attack the tariff laws as 'vicious, inequitable, and illogical,' the administration was nevertheless forced to withdraw its proposed lower tariff measure (the Mills Bill) because of crippling amendments tacked on by the Republican-dominated Senate.
"The tariff issue dominated the 1888 election campaign. Although Cleveland received a larger popular vote, his rival, Republican Benjamin Harrison, won in the electoral college, and Cleveland retired to his law practice in New York City. Four years later the two major parties- still focussing on the tariff issue- were challenged by the agrarian-oriented Populist Party, and, in a three-way contest, Cleveland (renominated once more over the strenuous objections of Tammany Hall) won in the electoral college, though he did not receive a popular majority.
"Shortly after his inauguration (March 1893), a financial panic engulfed the country, leaving in its wake one of the most serious economic depressions in US history. The public blamed Cleveland and the Democrats for the disaster, and even his own party began to drift away from his leadership. Blaming the economic relapse on the Sherman Silver Purchase Act (1890), which had increased the government's silver purchases and now threatened the country's fiscal stability, Cleveland succeeded in 1893 in forcing Congress to repeal the controversial act, but this action failed to relieve the depression. To replenish the government's dwindling gold supply, he authorized the purchase of 3,500,000 ounces of gold from private financiers, who profited handsomely. Despite these efforts to bolster the economy, the business world remained in a constant state of agitation. To add to the unrest, a bitter labour war broke out in 1894 at the Pullman Palace Car Company near Chicago, spreading to a general railroad strike in the Midwest and causing riots and bloodshed. When Illinois governor John P Altgeld refused to intervene, Cleveland was persuaded by the railroad association to 'protect the mails' (under the interstate commerce clause of the Constitution) by sending in federal troops. The strike was broken within a week, and the President received the plaudits of the business community but the suspicious distrust of organized labour. Cleveland did not effect a lower tariff schedule because of Senate opposition, and the Wilson-Gorman Tariff, containing still higher rates (1894), became law without his signature.
"In foreign affairs Cleveland eschewed intervention in Hawaii and Cuba but intervened in a boundary dispute between Venezuela and British Guiana in 1895, insisting that the US 'must resist by every means' an extension of British jurisdiction over Venezuelan rights. When Britain finally agreed to arbitrate Cleveland and the US emerged with enhanced prestige and greater influence in the Americas.
"At the 1896 nominating convention, free-silver advocates took over the Democratic Party, and Cleveland backed a separate 'sound money' slate that ran under the banner of the National Democratic Party. The Republicans won, and, at the conclusion of his term (March 1897), Cleveland retired to his home in Princeton. Partisan animosities gradually diminished, and he regained his reputation as a disinterested defender of honest government. He served as trustee and lecturer in public affairs at Princeton University and as a rebate referee for several life insurance companies; he also wrote 'Presidential Problems' (1904)."